Tabling for the Santa Cruz Eleven

Supporters of the Santa Cruz Eleven [SC-11] will be giving out information, circulating petitions, and seeking help to expose and dismiss the two felonies and two misdemeanors that seven of them still face. They could be sentenced to seven years in prison apiece.

The seven are charged with felony vandalism, misdemeanor trespass, and felony conspiracy to trespass and vandalize in a case widely denounced by ACLU, the National Lawyer's Guild, the Resource Center for Non-Violence, and many others.

The charges have also targeted alternative media workers.

Coincidentally most of them are high-profile critics of city and county government, reporters, and/or organizers and activists with Occupy Santa Cruz.

Critics charge and D.A. Bob Lee denies he is playing a game with the taxpayer's money to discourage legitimate future protest. Activists claim he is acting as bagman and security force for Wells Fargo Bank, whose 3 1/2 vacant property was briefly and peacefully occupied last year.

Judge Paul Burdick, before whom all previous SC-11 cases have come, thought so little of D.A. Bob Lee's case (presented by D.A. Rebekah Young) that he dismissed every one. Instead of learning from this, Young has refiled charges and continues to expensive and grueling persecution.

Their next hearing is scheduled for August 17th (Readiness for Preliminary Hearing) with the actual Preliminary Hearing on August 20th (both at 9 AM in Dept. 6 before Judge Burdick). They have been ordered to personally appear at both hearings.

The only evidence police seem to have against the seven is that they were present in the building (along with hundreds of other people, including other reporters and a councilmember). Yet they are the only ones charged.

Activists said they were seeking a community center, winter shelter for the homeless, and exposure of Wells Fargo's fraudulent foreclosure practices.

For more information and to offer support, see http://www.santacruzeleven.org .

HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) is also giving out information to alert the community to a new vicious crackdown on people without shelter ("homeless people"). The city has shelter for less than 5% of its homeless, a Sleeping Ban that criminalizes ALL sleeping outside or in vehicles on public property, and an ongoing assault against homeless activists (two of whom report to jail this month to serve out six month sentences for peaceful protest).

See "USA: Human Rights Activist Ordered to Six Months of Jail, More Repression Scheduled" at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/07/29/18718520.php

For details from the police department itself on the crackdown, see http://santacruzpolice.blogspot.com/ .

The attack on "illegal campsites" ignores the fact that there is no legal camping in the city of santa cruz on any public property.

The act of sleeping after 11 PM outside on public property even without bedding, tents, or other equipment is considered "camping" if done outside or in any building not a residence.

More than 1000 homeless people are estimated to engage in this "crime" every night in Santa Cruz.