Tag Archives | Santa Cruz

Vacant Bank Occupied at River and Water Streets in Santa Cruz

On November 30th, more than a hundred activists in Santa Cruz demonstrated in front of a Chase bank, before marching to and occupying a vacant bank building on River and Water Streets at 3 PM. A communique handed out shortly after the building was entered states, “This building is being re-purposed in solidarity with Occupy Santa Cruz. Formerly a Coast Commercial Bank, the building was bought by Wells Fargo, closed, and has been vacant for the past three years. The company leasing the building manages foreclosures for Wells Fargo.

“The building is being re-purposed under Federal and State laws surrounding ‘adverse possession.’ This law states that space is most beneficial to the people who use it. Spaces like this one, reclaimed from the wealthiest 1%, are places where we can seek redress to our grievances.”

Photos: Vacant Bank Occupied Part 1 | Part 2

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Occupy Santa Cruz Demonstrates Outside Major Banks

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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Occupy Santa Cruz Begins at San Lorenzo Park

Occupy Santa Cruz kicked off at 10am on October 6th at San Lorenzo Park. Dozens of people gathered for discussions, and to settle in for an ongoing occupation of the park. A tarp was strung from trees, food donations were collected and distributed, and talks are underway about bathrooms, safety, focus and message of the occupation, the general assembly meeting at 6pm, marching and demonstrating, outreach, and much more. Read More and View Photos

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Occupy Santa Cruz Holds First General Assembly, Decides on Occupation of San Lorenzo Park

Occupy Santa Cruz, a local convergence in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, held it’s first General Assembly on October 4th at Laurel Park in Santa Cruz. Hundreds of people gathered in the park, prior to the evening rain, and decided by consensus to launch an occupation at San Lorenzo Park starting Thursday, October 6th at 10am.

On September 17th, over one thousand demonstrators poured into New York City’s financial district to confront corporate greed by establishing an ongoing presence, day and night, in lower Manhattan. The idea was to create an American Tahir Square on Wall Street. Police blocked marchers from reaching Wall Street, but hundreds persisted and set up camp in Zuccotti Park, now dubbed Liberty Plaza. Read More and View Photos

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March to Santa Cruz City Hall to Save the Knoll

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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