Hundreds Demand Justice for Oscar Grant Outside L.A. Courthouse

Published on June 14, 2010 in Police, Race, Solidarity & Outreach

On June 14th, hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Los Angeles Superior Court at 210 W. Temple to demand justice for Oscar Grant. Angelenos made it very clear that the significance of the trial of Johannes Mehserle is bigger than just Oscar Grant’s case, and that police brutality is part of systematic oppression. Connections were drawn between police killings in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, as well as in New York.

And not forgetting the six month long uprising, which began on June 14, 2006, loud cries of “Oaxaca Vive Vive, La Lucha Sigue Sigue” rang through the downtown streets. Read More and View Photos

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Graffiti and Broken Windows on Pacific Avenue

Published on May 2, 2010 in Globalization

On the night of Saturday, May 1st, Occupy California provided breaking news coverage of an event that began as a large dance party at the clock tower in downtown Santa Cruz, roved through the streets, and eventually morphed into a small number of people breaking storefront windows, mostly at corporate chain stores, though not exclusively.

I was not at any portion of the event on Saturday, so I do not have photos from that night. The following photos were taken in the late morning of Sunday, May 2nd, as the graffiti and broken glass were being removed. Read More and View Photos

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Second Annual Cannabis Legalization Rally at CSU Monterey Bay

Published on April 26, 2010 in Drug War, Education

On April 26th, the CSU Monterey Bay chapter of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) hosted the second annual Cannabis Legalization Rally in the main quad of CSUMB. The rally featured live music from campus bands, speeches about the injustice of the so-called ‘War on Drugs,’ and organizing for cannabis legalization in California in November 2010. Read More and View Photos

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Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market Expands. Is the Drum Circle Finally Over?

Published on April 21, 2010 in Arts & Creation, Environment

Wednesday, April 21st was the first day of the expanded Farmers’ Market in downtown Santa Cruz.

While I was finishing lunch in a nearby restaurant, I heard the owner speaking with one of her employees about the expansion of the market, and she was not happy about it. She said that the increased amount of goods and services now being offered each Wednesday at the Farmers’ Market will have a negative impact on her restaurant and other downtown businesses. The feelings expressed by this longtime owner of a downtown restaurant do not correspond with an announcement from the Farmers’ Market which states, “The plans for the new Downtown Market have engendered excitement and full support from downtown businesses located adjacent to the market.”

The Farmers’ Market was also strangely quiet compared to previous weeks. Notably absent was the weekly drum circle and the crowd it attracts. And a vendor was selling artisan bread where for years, Food Not Bombs had been distributing free meals to anyone. Read More and View Photos

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Four Twenty is a Smoking Good Time for Thousands at UC Santa Cruz

Published on April 21, 2010 in Drug War, Education

Four-Twenty, the international day of celebration for the cannabis culture held annually on April 20th, saw record numbers of marijuana consumers and legalization advocates at huge rallies across the planet this year.

Pot-puffing peoples from cities in Canada, the United States, and other points across the globe came out in force to proclaim their love for the cannabis plant and show authorities it is time to end marijuana prohibition.

The annual Four Twenty celebration at UC Santa Cruz drew thousands of people to the Porter Meadow, where people made music, danced, played in costumes, chilled with friends, and of course, smoked copious amounts of marijuana in pipes, joints, blunts, bongs and bubblers. Read More and View Photos

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