Archive | September, 2008

Drum Circle is Back with a Bang in Santa Cruz’s Parking Lot #4

Published on September 24, 2008 in Arts & Creation, Community Building, Police

Mesh fencing that circled the magnolia trees in Santa Cruz’s Parking Lot #4 at noon on September 24th had been removed by 3:30pm and a painted cardboard banner hung proudly declaring, “Home of the Farmer’s Market Drum Circle 10 Years Here!!” The drum circle seemed as large as ever with more people gathered in the parking lot. Wes returned, along with others in Santa Cruz Trash Orchestra, and Food Not Bombs provided another delicious vegan meal. At one point there were at least two police officers monitoring the drum circle, but unlike last week, they maintained a low profile while people enjoyed the special community gathering. Read More and View Photos

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Mesh Fencing Up Again in Parking Lot #4 to Prevent Drum Circle

Published on September 24, 2008 in Arts & Creation, Community Building, Police

Once again, metal stakes and green mesh fencing have been put up by the city of Santa Cruz to prevent the weekly drum circle and gathering in Parking Lot #4 next to the Santa Cruz Farmer’s Market. September 24th marks the fourth week in a row that police are taking action to shut down the traditional community gathering where people play music, share food and take time to try and enjoy life. Read More and View Photos

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Plainclothes Cop Walking Pacific Avenue

Published on September 23, 2008 in Police

A plainclothes police officer was walking up Pacific Avenue on September 23rd. The plainclothes officer and the officer in uniform spent several minutes talking to another individual outside the Tampico near the Metro Center. Both the plainclothes police officer and the uniformed cop took photos of me after I took their photos. Read More and View Photos

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Two Arrested Near Farmer’s Market, But the Beats Continued On

Published on September 17, 2008 in Arts & Creation, Community Building, Police

On September 17th, two people were arrested in Parking Lot #4 alongside the Santa Cruz Farmer’s Market. Police lined Cathcart Street displaying batons and a riot control gun, but quickly drove away, while seditious beats emanated from the drum circle below the trees. People continued to play music, share food and enjoy their time in Parking Lot #4 without further disturbance from the police or fencing. Read More and View Photos

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Keeping Santa Cruz Weird: Is Drumming a Crime?

Published on September 10, 2008 in Arts & Creation, Community Building, Police

On September 10th, the City of Santa Cruz took measures trying to prevent the weekly gathering and drum circle in Parking Lot #4 alongside the Farmer’s Market. New mesh fences and several police officers were not enough to prevent Raging Grannies and other free-thinkers from singing, playing instruments, sharing food and reclaiming an important community space under the trees. Police took surveillance photographs, passed out information, and harassed some people, but the drum beats and musical notes continued on for another week. Read More and View Photos

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Reclaiming Sacred Dakota Land at Camp Coldwater

Published on September 2, 2008 in Community Building, Government, Police

On September 2nd, members of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires) of the Dakota Oyate reoccupied Coldwater Spring and the surrounding land in Minnesota. The Coldwater Spring site is an abandoned property of the United States Department of the Interior’s defunct Bureau of Mines. Dakota people consider the spring as essential to their spiritual lifeway and the surrounding land as a part of their homeland of B’Dote. Dakota people believe that they will be better stewards of the land than either the United States or the State of Minnesota has been. This is evidenced in the fact that the site is littered with dilapidated structures and the soil is polluted from the former Bureau of Mines.

The reclamation of this sacred site was launched with four days of ceremonies to celebrate the seasonal transition from summer to fall. While the Dakota did not ask for a permit for the four days, the property manager has provided one. Despite the permit and the ceremonies that are happening on site, there continues to be heavy surveillance by Homeland Security, Hennepin County Sheriffs, and riot-police from various police agencies. Read More and View Photos

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