ASA Santa Cruz County Holds First Fundraiser at Trout Farm Inn
Aug 29th
On August 28th, the new Santa Cruz County chapter of Americans for Safe Access (ASA) held a fundraiser at the Trout Farm Inn on E. Zayante Rd. in Felton, CA. It was the local chapter’s first public event.
Americans for Safe Access, based in Oakland, is the largest member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens working to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic uses and research. ASA works in partnership with state, local and national legislators to create policies that improve access to medicinal marijuana for both patients and researchers. ASA claims to have over 30,000 active members with chapters and affiliates in more than 40 states.
Gail, a member of the Wo/Man’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana (WAMM) who was born with glaucoma and is blind, was grateful for the opportunity to meet and socialize with others who benefit, physically and mentally, from cannabis. As an eighteen year old student at UC Santa Cruz, Gail was passed a joint for the first time. That is when she discovered that marijuana eases the pain she experiences from glaucoma. Read More and View Photos
Peace Camp 2010 Relocates from County Courthouse to Santa Cruz City Hall
Aug 11th
Red, a participant in the Peace Camp 2010 protest against the Santa Cruz Sleeping Ban, said that she and about 15 other demonstrators moved to City Hall at 3am on Wednesday, August 11th. The Peace Camp had been at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse since July 4th, and persevered through six Sheriff raids.
“We took it to the city because it’s a city problem,” said Red. “So we’re camped outside the mayor’s office.” Bob, one of the demonstrators, was reportedly cited for falling asleep in violation of the city’s municipal code against sleeping.
In a frank voice, Red proclaimed, “They chase us around, but there really is no place for us to go. They don’t have shelter space for us. They are prosecuting us for something we can’t help. That’s what the Jones decision was about.” Read More and View Photos
One Big Earthquake and You’re All Homeless: End the Sleeping Ban
Aug 10th
“One Big Earthquake and You’re All Homeless” was the hand-written message greeting travelers at Ocean and Water, one of the busiest intersections in Santa Cruz County, on Tuesday afternoon, August 10th. The message was displayed by Red and Crow, participants of the Peace Camp 2010 demonstration at the courthouse, who also displayed a sign stating “End the Sleeping Ban”.
Red and Crow have been sleeping outside since their van and personal possessions were impounded. They say they have received only positive looks and feedback from passersby, speculating that people are understanding that homelessness can happen to anybody and anytime.
“If there was a big earthquake, a lot of people would instantly be homeless,” said Crow. “But then the sleeping ban would be lifted,” he added. Read More and View Photos
Kindergartener Nazis?
Aug 9th
Photo by Bradley, August 9, 2010, downtown Santa Cruz.
Text and tip taken from Antifascist 831 (http://antifascist831.wordpress.com)
Encouragingly, someone used black to cross out the “SS” lightning bolt tag in yellow chalk on the wall next to the pay phone on Lincoln Street, and wrote “Kill Nazis” underneath. It is a good practice to cross out racist and nazi graffiti, even if it is written in chalk. Crossing out racist graffiti allows passerby to see that there is that element out there, and also opposition to it, whereas merely covering it up makes the problem invisible.
For those unfamiliar, “SS” refers to Nazi Germany’s Schutzstaffel, the paramilitary force that ran the concentration camps (among other functions), and is a common Neo-Nazi symbol. Read More and View Photo
Sunday Night Sleepers at Santa Cruz Peace Camp 2010
Aug 9th
On the night of Sunday, August 8th, eight deputies arrived around 11pm to harass, interrogate and cite two more Peace Camp stalwarts, Chris Doyon and Collette Connally, as they tried to sleep. The wet cold night held health problems for Doyon who said he’d picked up pneumonia after being held for four hours in handcuffs in a police van on Saturday morning, and then stripped of most of his clothes in jail. Read More and View Photos
