BradleyStuart.net » Solidarity & Outreach

Port of Oakland Shut Down by Occupy Oakland

bradley — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:42:25 +0000

On December 12th, the Occupy movements in various cities, mostly along the west coast, staged mass mobilizations to march on ports, create community pickets, and effectively shutdown the hubs of commerce. The demonstrations were modeled on Occupy Oakland’s successful port shut down and general strike on November 2nd.

Occupy Oakland called for the December 12th West Coast Port Shutdown, “because we believe it is time the occupation movement begins to work together to carry through coordinated, pinpointed actions. We want to disrupt the profits of the 1% and show solidarity with those in the 99% who are under direct attack by corporate tyranny.” In particular, the demonstrations were in solidarity with longshoremen, port workers and truck drivers. Read More and View Photos

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The following photos were taken on December 12th during the afternoon rally at 14th and Broadway in Oscar Grant (aka Frank Ogawa) Plaza, the march from the plaza to the port, and the demonstration within the Port of Oakland. The port was already shut down in the early morning as a result of protests, and was still closed when the large demonstration arrived in the evening. In addition to Oakland, protesters in Portland, OR; Longview, WA; and Vancouver, BC successfully shut down ports in their city for the morning shift, and the SSA terminals at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port were successfully shut down as well.

Since there were attacks by police on demonstrators in other cities, including Seattle, San Diego and Houston, Occupy Oakland made good on its promise of solidarity, and extended the port shut down into the next shift at 3am. Occupy Oakland successfully shut down the Port of Oakland for three consecutive shifts.

Occupy Oakland Marches and Occupies Lot at 19th and Telegraph

bradley — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:13:11 +0000

On November 19th, Occupy Oakland held a rally and march which began at Oscar Grant Plaza (aka Frank Ogawa Plaza) located at 14th and Broadway in Oakland. Thousands of people wound their way through Oakland, including around Lake Merritt, before stopping to set up a new occupation in the park and empty lot on 19th and Telegraph in the Uptown neighborhood and entertainment district. As of 11:30pm, the camp was intact and there were no reports of clashes between police and demonstrators. Read More and View Photos

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For more information and coverage, please see:

Occupy Oakland Calls for Mass Rally, March and New Occupation on Nov 19
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/17/18699906.php

Occupy Santa Cruz Demonstrates Outside Major Banks

bradley — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 06:45:57 +0000

On October 7th, hundreds of people marched from Santa Cruz Mission Plaza and demonstrated at national financial institutions in downtown, as part of Occupy Santa Cruz, a local movement in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and the 800+ occupations taking place in towns and cities throughout the U.S. Demonstrators held signs and chanted outside Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo, and briefly marched on Soquel Avenue, Pacific and Mission Street. Read More and View Photos

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People held signs with statements including:

• The Two Party System is A Farce. It’s All About Money

• Stop the Wars! Stop the War on Workers!

• Corporations Are People!??? Great! Let’s Break Their Knee-caps!

• Stop Funding an Endless War, Invest in Community

• End the Fed

• Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport!

• Land of the Fees, Home of the Slave

• Share More, Consume Less

• End Corporate Personhood, Move to Amend

• Corporations Have More Rights Than I Do

For more information and to participate, please see:

Occupy Santa Cruz Going Strong: Notes from 2nd General Assembly
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/07/18692592.php

Inspired by Egypt, Motivated by Financial Inequality, Occupy Wall Street Expands Across US
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/04/18692124.php

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

Prisoners’ Hunger Strike Solidarity March in Santa Cruz

bradley — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 20:44:03 +0000

On July 23rd, about twenty people rallied and marched in downtown Santa Cruz in solidarity with prisoners at Pelican Bay who have ended their hunger strike and declared it a success! Their courageous act of refusing to eat for four weeks has successfully put the issues of torturous isolation units and California’s abominable debriefing program in the international and national media, boosted a growing movement for the rights of prisoners, and is unifying prisoners of different racial groups for a struggle against their real and shared enemies: the unfair policies and practices of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Read More and View Photos

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The hunger strike at Pelican Bay began on July 1st, quickly spread to prisons across California, and continues at Tehachapi, Corcoran, and Calipatria State Prisons.

The strike was launched with five key demands: 1) Eliminate group punishments; 2) Abolish the debriefing policy and modify active/inactive gang status criteria; 3) Comply with the recommendations of the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons (2006) regarding an end to long term solitary confinement; 4) Provide adequate food; 5) Expand and provide constructive programs and privileges for indefinite SHU (Security Housing Unit) inmates.

The solidarity demonstration in Santa Cruz began at the clock tower, and proceeded to march down Pacific Ave, and then on the sidewalks of Laurel to Broadway, then Ocean St. to the Santa Cruz County Jail, and concluded back at the clock tower. Demonstrators held an eye-catching banner which states, “Solidarity With The Prisoners. SHU = State-Sanctioned Torture!” and received a lot of positive feedback from people traveling on Water Street and along Pacific Avenue.

Spirited chants included: From Guantanamo to Pelican Bay; State Torture is Not Ok, and Prisoner Rights are Human Rights; Support the Prisoners’ Hunger Strike!

Food Not Bombs Feeds Hungry Folks at Santa Cruz City Hall

bradley — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:34:05 +0000

On June 30th, a new incarnation of Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs served up a healthy and hearty meal to dozens of hungry people in front of Santa Cruz City Hall. The collaborative effort was in response to the City of Orlando, Florida jailing volunteers of Orlando Food Not Bombs, as well as Keith McHenry, who helped to start the Food Not Bombs movement over 30 years ago. Food Not Bombs chapters volunteer around the world to end the criminalization of poverty, which in Santa Cruz includes police waking and ticketing people who are sleeping at night. Read More and View Photos

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Slut Pride Worldwide: Santa Cruz SlutWalk

bradley — Tue, 17 May 2011 07:35:15 +0000

On May 15, Santa Cruz SlutWalk took the sidewalks to make a unified statement about sexual assault and victims’ rights, to demand respect for all, and re-appropriate the term slut. The demonstration was one of many around the world sparked by a statement on January 24 from a representative of the Toronto Police to a group of students. The officer shared insight into the police force’s view of sexual assault by stating, “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” Read More and View Photos

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Santa Cruz SlutWalk began in San Lorenzo Park at noon on a rainy Sunday. The weather was not ideal for a SlutWalk, but the sun eventually turned out, and layers of clothing were shed. The demonstration traveled from San Lorenzo Park down Pacific Ave, up Laurel St., along Mission to Walnut, and ended with a rally at the clock tower.

For background information on SlutWalk, please visit:

SlutWalk Santa Cruz
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/05/10/18679373.php

From SlutWalk Toronto:

What Now?

After some reflection after the first SlutWalkTO, SlutWalk is determined to keep going.

With your help, SlutWalk has become a mechanism for increased dialogue on victim-blaming, slut-shaming, misogynist and oppressive ideas that need to be challenged. These damaging ideas affect all of us and play into racist, ableist, homophobic discussions, discussions about status, class, sex work, indigenous rights and more that need to be challenged.

SW has become an empowering event, and with this in mind, we are proud to announce that…

SLUTWALK WILL BE RETURNING AGAIN NEXT APRIL!

The five folks behind SlutWalkTO organizing, plus some other incredible voices, will be building on what SW did well this year, how to improve, and how to keep going.

Rally in Santa Cruz on Eighth Anniversary of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq

bradley — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:41:50 +0000

On March 19th, a day which began with a heavy hail storm in Santa Cruz, dozens of people rallied at the Town Clock to protest the eighth anniversary of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. The rally was also a demonstration against the incarceration of Bradley Manning, the increasing militarism of society, and the war at home against the poor and houseless. Protests were taking place in other cities as well, including San Francisco and Fresno. Read More and View Photos

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Walt Oicle, an organizer of the rally, gave a moving speech and performed a song on the guitar. Walt’s first protest was a candlelight vigil against the Vietnam War in 1970. At the Town Clock, Walt stated, “We must force our government to do things because they are right, and not merely expedient or profitable for some particular constituent. We’ve got to stop letting corporations write our laws for their benefit. We’ve got to reverse the idea that bloodless corporations should have the same rights as actual people. Corporations are set up to make money, and to avoid personal responsibility. Corporations can’t be jailed, and their officers seldom are. So we’ve got to amend the Constitution to rectify that mistaken notion that has caused so much trouble.”

Community BBQ in the Park (for a world without police)

bradley — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 03:15:44 +0000

On March 13th, the Sunday prior to the International Day Against Police Brutality, Santa Cruz anarchists organized a family-friendly BBQ in Grant Street Park “for a world without police.” Dozens of people showed up to grill food, socialize, and listen to Know Your Rights and Copwatch presentations. A bounce-house was set up, but quickly deflated by order of the Santa Cruz Police.

Organizers say the BBQ provided a space for people to “kick it in the park and explore ways that we can rely on each other, rather than on the police.” Furthermore, “We don’t need the police to be safe. Police are often an invasive or violent presence in our communities.” Read More and View Photos

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The Copwatch presentation was from people involved with the Modesto Anarcho and Modesto Copwatch collaboration.

Walk for Choice Santa Cruz says “Keep Your Politics Off My Body”

bradley — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 07:31:40 +0000

On February 26th, more than a hundred people united energetically in Santa Cruz, along with cities across the nation, to demonstrate their disgrace with systemic violence against women. At noon, people converged at the Clock Tower before marching down Pacific Avenue to Laurel St. People chanted “Not the Church, Not the State; Women must decide their fate” as they continued up Laurel St. and onto Mission St. / Highway 1 where there was a brief occupation of the Mission and Bay intersection. Read More and View Photos

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The demonstrations were organized in response to HR-3, the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” In large measure, it would render permanent the restrictions on federal funding of abortion in the United States laid out in the Hyde Amendment.

The Hyde Amendment currently bans all federal money from going to abortions, except in cases of incest or rape. The GOP’s HR-3 will change this language to “incest or forcible rape.” This would mean that a woman would have to somehow prove that rape was “forced” in order to get access to abortion. Protesters say this language reinforces the notion that some kinds of rape are not as serious as others.

A state legislator in Georgia wants to change the legal term for victims of rape, stalking, and domestic violence to “accuser.” But victims of other less gendered crimes, like burglary, would remain “victims.” This encourages people to believe that women lie about being raped, something most rape victims already have to deal with.

In South Dakota, Republicans proposed a bill that could make it legal to murder a doctor who provides abortion care. The bill states that if a person is threatening a fetus, that person can be killed under the guise of “self-defense.”

In Congress, Republicans have a bill that would let hospitals allow a women to die rather than perform abortion necessary to save her life. It gives hospitals the option to refuse to perform an emergency where the women’s life is at risk.

Congress just voted for a Republican amendment, HR-3, to cut all federal funding from Planned Parenthood health centers, one of the most trusted providers of basic healthcare and family planning in the USA. The federal funding currently is prohibited from going towards abortions under the Hyde Amendment, but now all services are taking a cut such as Cancer screening, HIV testing, pelvic exams, free birth control, and primary care.

Some of the text in this article comes from a ‘What’s Going On?’ flyer passed out at the Clock Tower prior to the march. Text from the flyer was taken from moveon.org, respectively.

Chants from the March

Tell the folks on Capitol Hill, Don’t take away our birth control pills!
1, 2, 3, 4, Open up the clinic door! 5, 6, 7, 8, Don’t tell us to procreate!
Not the Church, Not the State; Women must decide their fate!
If you like safe sex, Save Title X!
What do we want? Planned Parenthood! When do we want it? Now!
Whose choice? Our choice!
Stop the violence, stop the hate; Separation of Church and State!
Here’s my confession; Screw your oppression!