| Title: | Food Not Bombs Back In Spite of Police & Postal Harassment |
| START DATE: | Saturday February 02 |
| TIME: | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Location Details: | |
| On the sidewalk next to the Main Post Office at the intersection of Pacific, Front, Mission, N. River, and Soquel Streets. | |
| Event Type: | Protest |
| Contact Name | Food Not Bombs |
| Email Address | foodnotbombs-sc [at] riseup.net |
| Phone Number | |
| Address | |
| FOOD NOT BOMBS RETURNS Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs continues its weekly public feeding in front of the Main Post Office. Last week it was driven by police and postal officials from the spot it had served at for the previous month–under the eavs of the Post Office. At that spot it did not block traffic, was protected from the wind and rain, and operated without difficulties–except that postal employees objected for unspecified reasons (anonymous complaints). Last week under threat of arrest, FNB was forced to the sidewalk to serve. More on this at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/01/19/18730563.php?show_comments=1#18730857 and the main story to which this comment is attached. THE BROADER THREAT Last year, Chief Administrative Officer Susan Mauriello decreed a 7 PM to 7 AM curfew at the courthosue and county building against Occupy Santa Cruz. This curfew is still in force–as though we were under martial law. CONTACT INFORMATION Robert Norse of HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) is posting this event. At our weekly meeting we voted to support FNB and encourage others in the community to cook and serve. We also urge folks to come witness and be in solidarity with FNB servers as they rightfully use the public space to both feed and raise important social and political questions. THE BROADER PICTURE Attacks on food servers has been done in the past in Santa Cruz and other cities and only stopped when FNB and other feeding groups refused to stop feeding, even in the face of threats of arrest. A HISTORICAL LOOK BACK http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/001.SoupCrime%20In%20San%20Francisco=8-96.pdf & http://www.huffsantacruz.org/StreetSpiritSantaCruz/002.SoupCrime%20In%20S.F.%28cont.%29=8-96.pdf UPCOMING ATTACKS ON THE HOMELESS I hope that our local FNB will continue the work of its predecessors in taking direct stands to dramatize the abuses of the anti-homeless groups (and phony povertypimps). Those who have aided and abetted the anti-homeless sweeps of the last year using “needle hysteria” to scapegoat already vulnerable poor people need to be confronted and exposed. DISCLAIMER Please get in touch with FNB and sign up to cook and serve. And show up with cameras, video and audio devices, and friends to witness and support. The only thing that illegitimate power understands is the power of the community aroused. Added to the calendar on Wednesday Jan 30th, 2013 10:23 PM |
|
Import this event into your personal calendar.
Comments (Hide Comments)
Thursday Jan 31st, 2013 10:34 AM
It seems that he is trying to provoke a conflict with authorities (and his allies) by telling the community what he wants to see happen, which could create confusion–enough so that he has already felt the need to clarify himself. It also seems that he sees himself as an “expert” on the history of FNB whose opinion should be taken with greater weight than others’ (a behavior which he pointedly decried last week on his radio show.)
Advocating for and feeding the homeless is about Human Rights, which Santa Cruz seems to not recognize, placing their plutocracy in the realm of fascist regimes in Latin America with their treatment of lower-class folks.
Thank you to Robert, the author of this posting, for diligently posting updates about this struggle. Without him, our Northbay Uprising radio show wouldn’t know what is happening, let alone report on it to our audience.
And much support to the HUFF for their endorsement of the Santa Cruz FNB campaign.
I didn’t see any cops. HUFF set up a table and made available literature about the proposed Homeless Bill of Rights as well as last month’s Street Spirit.
It was a mellow scene.
Occupy Santa Cruz voted to move its next General Assembly to Saturday at 5 PM during and after the Food Not Bombs meal at the post office.
Food Not Bombs activists attended the Sunday Occupy meeting today and sounded happy.
See you next week most likely.
Additionally Occupy Santa Cruz met on the post office steps at its new weekly meeting time of 5 PM each Saturday–with no reported interference.
As long as the weather is sunny and warm (and not rainy and/or cold), the sidewalk area may actually be better by being more visible. However, the principle of outdoor public areas being accessible to both charitable and political activity is an important one that was blatantly violated here, with the collusion of the Santa Cruz Police Department.
Just as parks, the City Hall complex, the library, the levee, and the County Courthouse complex are now “forbidden” zones at night (even for completely lawful political assembly), so now the federal post office is now a “no go”.
Prior food servings have also been targeted downtown (Dennis Adams of The Potters Hand meal across the street at the Town Clock was driven away by SCPD harassment after being harried all around town; Ronee Curry faced disapproval from Mayor Coonerty and her clients police harassment within the last few years on several occasions; Father Joel Miller faced a relentless campaign from Councilmember Cynthia Matthews for his Monday Calvary Episcopal meal–see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/12/24/18667496.php).
The determination of the community to support continued access to public spaces is really the only safeguard we have.