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March to Santa Cruz City Hall to Save the Knoll

bradley — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:15:43 +0000

It has been over three weeks since KB Home contractors unearthed the skeletal remains of a young Ohlone child at the Branciforte Creek construction site in Santa Cruz. The City Council has yet to meaningfully address this situation or take action to honor Ohlone requests to protect the area by halting KB Home’s planned development.

On August 25th, 75 people marched in downtown Santa Cruz from Laurel and Pacific to City Hall on Center Street in an action organized by the Save the Knoll Coalition. One person maintained an indigenous chant throughout the march, many people carried signs and banners, and several distributed educational flyers.

The march was urgently organized for 10am on a Thursday because the Santa Cruz City Council was holding a special closed meeting, but the Branciforte Creek development was not on their agenda. However, prior to the closed meeting, twenty minutes were allocated for public comments about the pending Branciforte Creek development. Read More and View Photos

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Charlene Sul, a representative of the Save the Knoll Coalition, was one of the people who made impassioned public comments. Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Don Lane reported that he has been talking with KB Home representatives in an effort to protect the Knoll. Councilmember Tony Madrigal inquired with city attorney John Barrisone about holding another city council meeting soon to discuss the Knoll. Tony’s inquiry was backed by Councilmember Katherine Beiers, who said she was misinformed regarding the public comment period, and had told about 15 people that there would not be time for public comment.

At a rally outside city hall following the public comment period, Save the Knoll organizers stated that they felt the response from City Council was positive overall. But this is no time for people to let their guards down, rather it is important for people to continue putting pressure on KB Home and the Santa Cruz City Council.

Ohlone descendants have asked for a halt to any earth movement or development on the 6,000 year old village and burial site. Hundreds of Santa Cruz residents have rallied in support of the Ohlone people who are asking that the area be protected before anymore of their ancestors are disturbed.

For background information, breaking news, and ways to get involved in the ongoing efforts to save the Knoll, visit the coalition’s website at SaveTheKnoll.org

Save the Knoll Gathering at Grant Street Park

bradley — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:06:35 +0000

On August 21st, dozens of people participated in an informational social gathering and barbecue hosted by the Save the Knoll Coalition at Grant Street Park in Santa Cruz. The Knoll is part of a wild area in Santa Cruz, locally known as Market Street Field at Branciforte Creek, which is also the location of a 6,000 year old Native American burial and village site. Despite the Knoll’s cultural significance, it is threatened with imminent development by KB Home as part of a 32-unit residential subdivision being advertised as “Branciforte Creek – the Comfort of Green Living”.

Indigenous Ohlone peoples were the featured speakers at the gathering, including Ann Marie Sayers, who as been designated as the “Most Likely Descendant” (MLD) of native peoples who have been dug up during the construction which has already begun, and Charlene Sul, an artist, activist and newly-appointed Professor at CSU Monterey Bay. Read More and View Photos

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A member of the Save the Knoll Coalition reported that on August 19th, two days prior to the gathering, sixteen people woke up early in Santa Cruz and drove out to KB Home Northern California’s headquarters in Pleasanton to deliver a demand letter on behalf of the Coalition.

The unexpected visitors filled the small KB Home lobby, and a perplexed secretary called division president Chris Apostolopoulos. “I think you better come up here”. A few minutes later, Mr. Apostolopoulos himself entered the lobby, with two other KB Home representatives. Appearing quite nervous, they were handed six copies of the demand letter.

A group representative informed them that “We have a large group of people closely watching the activity of KB Home around this development, and we’re willing to take further action if the wishes of the native people aren’t respected.”

For background information, breaking news, and ways to get involved in the ongoing efforts to save the Knoll, visit the coalition’s website at SaveTheKnoll.org

Displacement and Denigration of the Cemetery for Negro Hills, California

bradley — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:12:33 +0000

Racist headstones have marked the relocated resting place of Negro Hills, California pioneers since 1954. When the Folsom Dam was created in 1954, along with Folsom Lake, numerous communities, including those making up Negro Hills, were submerged under the water of the American River (previously known as el Rio de las Americas when the land was governed by Mexico). Before the communities were submerged, the cemeteries were dug up and moved to a location near the new lake called Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery. The cemetery is in present day El Dorado Hills, on Shadowfax Lane off of Green Valley Road next to Folsom Prison.

After almost 60 years, actions are finally underway to install new headstones with an accurate town name, rather than the racial slur that has marked the graves of 36 “unknown” people from Negro Hills, California. Read More and View Photos

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In April, 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District responded to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Associated Press by publishing their files related to their relocation in 1954 of 13 cemeteries and private burial plots to the Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery during the construction of Folsom Dam.

“We are deeply ashamed and regretful to find this word in our records, and for having perpetuated a hateful, racist word that has no place in public discourse,” said Sacramento District commander, Lt. Col. Andrew Kiger. He continues, “We can only say with certainty that it is reflective of a shameful period in American history when racial intolerance was commonplace.”

It has taken a tremendous amount of pressure from activists, including Michael Harris and the Negro Hill Burial Ground Project, as well as Dr. Ralph White and the Stockton Black Leadership Council, to get numerous governmental agencies to take action in regards to the racist headstones for pioneers of Negro Hills. As early as 2005, Michael Harris has been publishing on Indybay (San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center) to educate and organize people for taking collective action to bring dignity to Negro Hills, California.

Background information and more developments in this story are available on Indybay, and various websites, including the Mountain Democrat, said to be California’s Oldest Newspaper — Est. 1851.

Mormon Island Relocation Cemetery, El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County, California
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/05/09/18679280.php
August 1999, by Peter Kroff, Eagle Scout

Gravestone changes under way
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/opinion/editorials/gravestone-changes-under-way/
May 26th, 2011

More appropriate headstones asked
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/more-appropriate-headstones-asked/
April 28th, 2011

Gravestones to be removed; process unclear
http://www.villagelife.com/news/gravestones-to-be-removed-process-unclear/
May 25th, 2011

Black Agriculture – Negro Hill Burial Ground Project
http://www.blackagriculture.com/negro_hill_burial_ground_project

The Unknowns – Part 4
http://weeklypioneer.blogspot.com/2011/05/unknowns-part-4.html
May 9, 2011

Gravestones used as retaining wall?
http://folsomtelegraph.com/detail/178260.html
May 11, 2011

Dignity and Respect for Black Gold Rush Pioneers ~ 2006 Mountain Democrat (Placerville)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/05/06/18679046.php

Activist Seeks to Bury for Good Act of Racism Festering in Foothills ~ 2006 Sacramento Bee
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/01/18599768.php

ILWU Rally and Shut Down All Bay Area Ports Demanding “Justice for Oscar Grant! Jail Killer Cops!”

bradley — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:49:38 +0000

On October 23rd, the ILWU Local 10 longshore workers closed all bay area ports (Richmond, Benicia, Redwood City, Oakland and San Francisco) and rallied in Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza to protest the murder of Oscar Grant with the demand “Justice for Oscar Grant! Jail Killer Cops!” ILWU union port workers joined the rally which brought together many organizations, including labor unions, high school and college students, the faith-based community and the general public in a call for justice.

The rally was initiated by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 after Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson of the Oscar Grant Family spoke to union members about the similarity between the murder of his nephew and a mural on the union hall depicting the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike. On “Bloody Thursday,” July 5th, 1934, a striking seaman and a strike sympathizer, Nicolas Bordoise and Howard Sperry, were killed by a police officer who fired a shotgun into a crowd.

Johanes Mehserle, the ex-BART cop who shot Oscar Grant in the back on January 1, 2009 while Grant was being held face down by multiple officers, faces sentencing in Los Angeles on November 5th. Read More and View Photos

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For more information, see:

Oakland Rally Says: Justice For Oscar Grant! Jail Killer Cops!
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/10/23/18662094.php”

Justice for Oscar Grant! Jail for Killer Cops! Longshore To Shutdown All Bay Area Ports
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/10/18/18661635.php

Oscar Grant Rally For Justice: ILWU Jack Heyman and Clarence Thomas
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/10/21/18661940.php

ILWU Rally for Oscar Grant
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/10/23/18662085.php

http://www.indybay.org/oscargrant

Oscar Grant Rally in Santa Cruz Against Injustice and Police Murder

bradley — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:18:48 +0000

In the early hours of January 1st, 2009, Oscar Grant III was murdered by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, shot in the back as he lay face-down on the Fruitvale BART platform with BART officer Tony Pirone’s knee in his shoulder.

On July 8th, 2010, Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but acquitted on the more serious charges of second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter. The jury included eight women and four men. A white police officer killed a black man, yet no African-Americans served on the jury. The killing took place in Oakland, but the trail was moved out of Alameda County to Los Angeles.

It was announced that Mehserle will be sentenced on August 6th**. However, other reports suggest that sentencing may take place later, perhaps in September. Judge Robert Perry now has the discretion in sentencing to decide how to apply the findings of the jury.

** 65 years ago, on August 6th, 1945, the U.S. Military dropped a nuclear bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, on August 9th, the U.S. detonated a nuclear explosion over Nagasaki. Read More and View Photos

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

bradley — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:47:31 +0000

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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Demonstration at Courthouse Against Gang Enhancements and the Overcriminalization of Youth

bradley — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:42:51 +0000

On June 17th, community members, organized by the newly formed Alliance Against Gang Enhancements, rallied and handed out flyers on the steps of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse and the corner of Ocean and Water to educate the public about the realities of gang enhanced sentences. Organizers say that the sentencing “enhancements” [sic] broadly criminalize youth and do not deter future gang crimes. Rather, they result in huge costs passed on to taxpayers and overcriminalize youth in marginalized communities.

Support for the demonstration was expressed by many car drivers and passengers, as well as people entering the courthouse. However, some folks were apparently less enthusiastic, such as the prosecutor against Richard Bentancourt. The jurors for Bentancourt’s trail were reportedly brought into the courthouse through a backdoor. Bentancourt and two other people are on trial this week for a “gang crime” in which the defendants allegedly participated in a fight in Santa Cruz.

A “gang enhancement” or allegation of involvement in a criminal street gang can transform a simple misdemeanor charge, like shoplifting or trespassing, into a felony crime with consequences that include prison time and juveniles being tried as adults. Read More and View Photos

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UCSC Coalition Rallies Against Budget Cuts, Fee Hikes and Layoffs

bradley — Fri, 29 May 2009 06:17:55 +0000

On May 28th, students, staff, workers, and faculty rallied at the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus to protest the UC administration’s decision to cut Community Studies department staff, Latin American Latina/o Studies professors, and director positions at the American Indian Resource Center and the Women’s Center. The rally was organized by the New UC, a coalition that seeks to save quality of education in the UC from regressive, belt-tightening attacks, to ensure universal access to education, and to promote freedom of thought in the university.

Since May 26th, members of the Student of Color Collective (SOCC) have been on a hunger strike at the base of campus to protest budget cuts to underserved communities. In addition to the hunger strike and rally at the base of campus, resisidents of UCSC’s Family Student Housing (FSH) held a demonstration with tents to protest inadequate living conditions and a rent hike. Read More and View Photos

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Police Raid D-Q University: Eighteen Students, Elders and Supporters Arrested

bradley — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:18:13 +0000

On March 31st, César Chávez Day, the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department raided the buildings at Deganawidah-Quetzalcoatl, also known as D-Q University.

For decades, the school has been a forum and place for native people to learn about their cultures, educate each other, and experience a closeness to the earth. The school was formed in the 1970′s, when indigenous people stormed an old army base and eventually forced the government to turn it over to Native hands. D-Q U was born in struggle and in struggle it stays today! Read More and View Photos

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Sheriff Visits DQU; Elders, Students and Supporters Prepare for Possible Raid

bradley — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:09:43 +0000

On Sunday, March 30th, a group of about 15 people drove from Santa Cruz to DQU in support of DQU students, elders, land and future generations. At 7:38pm, a Yolo County Sheriff drove onto the property of DQU and then left after about a minute. It is very rare for a Sheriff to drive onto DQU. Read More and View Photos

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