Copwatch Tuesday and Drum Circle Update

Last copwatch 2 weeks ago (12-30) witnessed Sgt. Harms and Officer Kline driving off a homeless man (BamBam) from the New Leaf area, apparently on complaint of a kiosk tender. The pretext used was "unattended property", though BamBam was near the property and waiting to be picked up for a ride to San Francisco. Cops and BamBam agreed to move the stuff across the street out of the "merchant zone" (actually a public zone,but the focus of concern), where BamBam continued to wait.

The Drum Circle--now reinforced by the return of the Farmer's Market with sympathetic neighbors (Sentinel and Metro bullshit notwithstanding, Farmers Market vendors are generally supportive of the Drum Circle)--proceeded with fewer drummers than usual but no reported police presence. The green mesh fences, however, were up as usually (until taken down by public assembly supporters). The crowd grew as the afternoon progressed until it had swelled to near-normal size.

It appears the community has (again) won public assembly rights in the drum circle--not through the machinations of attorneys, the generosity of the city council, the intervention of the ACLU, or even the supportive intervention of the Trash Orchestra, but through direct resistance and restoration of space by the drummers themselves. Good work, everyone!

Hot soup tomorrow at Copwatch. If you'd like to work on Copwatch-on-line, give a call to 423-HUFF or come to the HUFF meeting at the Sub Rosa Cafe Wednesday 9:30-11:30 AM.