Santa Cruz, CA — Over four hundred days ago, a handful of activists climbed up into the trees on Science Hill as a symbol of resistance to the University of California’s plan to destroy 120 acres of campus forest. For the past 13 months, the tree sit has drawn attention to UCSC’s plan to develop upper campus in a way that activists say is, “without regard for the welfare of one of Santa Cruz’s last wild ecosystems.”
On December 13th at approximately 8:00am, the tree sit drew to a close as police seized control of Science Hill, arresting one tree sitter. Later, a tree cutting company hired by the university cut down a grove of 100 year old redwood trees to make way for construction of a Biomedical building. At 2:00pm, tree sitters and tree sit supporters held a press conference at the base of campus.
The three clusters of redwoods which have now been clearcut were inhabited since November 7, 2007, when over 500 students, alumni, and community members rallied in opposition to the University’s Long Range Development Plan.
Photos | More Photos | Audio and Photos: Final Press Conference
On November 7th, about 75 people turned out on Science Hill, the site scheduled for construction of a Biomedical Sciences Facility, to celebrate the one year anniversary of the UCSC Science Hill Tree Sit. The festivities featured speakers, spoken word, and musical performances, as well as laughter, storytelling and conversation. People also marked the occasion by sharing memories of November 7th, 2007, the day that hundreds of courageous students, staff, faculty, and community members withstood the violence of the police in order to support the tree sit. 
On October 31st, Halloween, Bay Area youth, families and other community members gathered around the Northern California Headquarters of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at 630 Sansome in San Francisco to denounce the atrocities committed by ICE against immigrant communities, even in the so called “sanctuary cities.” The demonstration included a lively funeral march, drumming and dancing by Danza Azteca, inciting speeches delivered by three Xicanas, as well as Sleeping dragons set up on two sides of the ICE building, effectively blocking the entry and exit of ICE vehicles for several hours. Demonstrators call for an immediate end to all ICE raids and to shut down all detention centers. 
Details are quite sketchy, but on August 7th, police raided a home on the 700 block of Riverside Avenue in Santa Cruz. It is the 
On August 4th, at the main entrance to UC Santa Cruz, faculty members held a demonstration in support of their colleagues who were 
