A dance party thumped on the night of September 30th at the occupied Graduate Student Commons and Bay Tree Plaza at UC Santa Cruz. The party brought out hundreds of undergraduates, many of them still frosh in their second week of college, as well as graduate students, alumni, dropouts, faculty and other distinguished community members. Many people described the space and experience as liberating. People of color, anarchists, communists, fraternity guys, sorority gals and jocks were all mixed into the diverse crowd of protesting dancers.
Without a doubt, they danced to enjoy the present moment, but of greater importance, they were dancing together for a future. A future of liberation and mutual aid, rather than the systems and structures of exploitation rigorously ingrained in them through corrupt institutions. Read More and View Photos
On October 1st, green mesh fencing was put up again in Santa Cruz’s Parking Lot #4 next to the downtown Farmer’s Market. The market began at 2:30pm and by 3:00pm, many people were disappointed by the fencing around the trees and the absence of the sounds of drumming in the air. But the drumming got started when a little kid, a regular at the drum circle, began playing his drum in the dirt near the sidewalk on Cedar Street. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
