The Boycott Bigotry table received its first official police complaints (filled out on official police complaint forms) as a massive Jaywalking sting on Wednesday afternoon around 7 pm. When the kids sitting on the benches in front of Borders bookstore tired of the nearby high-profile police surveillance, they walked across Pacific Avenue.

In response two police officers physically detained a deaf man: Deaf Jamb, as he's called and--ironically--jaywalked him back across the street.

Jamb's friends crossed back over Pacific Avenue, concerned about Jamb, and received jaywalking tickets for doing so. One man got a ticket for putting out a cigarette on the sidewalk (after he was told in so many words to do so). Three others were taken to jail (and later released) on the jaywalking charges. One man was physically seized when he attempted to leave. Witnesses confirm 13 or 14 cops there, with 7-8 squad cars, five of them parked on Pacific Avenue.

The next day, several hours after the Boycott Bigotry table folded for the day, police returned (about 7 of them) to again surveille and stand next to the Borders benches youth crowd.

I began a bit of public speaking, asking if this was where the new police budget (up $1.7 million while other departments are being slashed) was going. Officer Eric Seiley and his partner parked their squadcar blocking traffic next to the Walnut (Pacific Trading Company) planter for about half an hour while they "hung around" staring at the crowd. No tickets that I was aware of.

Please post any incidents of harassment by police on the web and/or call HUFF (Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom) at 423-4833. I'll be playing some more audio tape of this and other incidents on Sunday July 27th 9:30-1 p.m. on Free Radio Santa Cruz at 96.3 FM (www.freakradio.org).
Call in with your reactions and reports. 427-3772