On April 9th three Palestinian youth were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers as they chased a soccer ball that was kicked near the Israeli apartheid wall.

UCSC's upper-administration claim to be opposed to Tent University because it’s a “health and safety� hazard. Last night, they ensured student safety by ordering cops dressed in riot gear to violently disperse our peaceful gathering, arresting 20 people.

Symbolizing the displacement of higher education, and to protest budget priorities of the federal government, college students at campuses across the US have created their own, Tent University; a week-long, 24-hour liberated zone, for skill shares and workshops. Actions this week are taking place at the University of Missouri Kansas City, and Rutgers, in New Jersey. Last night at the University of California Santa Cruz, police violently broke up the Tent University which students erected at the school's main entrance. Vinny Lombardo reports.

Audio phone ins to FRSC from Tent U Protest action
Various FRSC reporters describe events as they occur

Police Brutalize Students for Sitting on Lawn at UCSC

On Monday, April 18th at 9:53 pm, University of California police descended on Tent University Santa Cruz (TUSC) and declared an unlawful assembly at the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus. Then at 10:17 pm the police began trying to arrest about 100 people that were locked down and chanting loudly. Police used pain compliance techniques on about 20 people and violently pried people apart from direct democracy circles, though some people did manage to escape from the pain compliance holds and again lock arms with other folks in the circles.

One nonviolent observer was pulled from the crowd by the cops and detained along with the people who decided to hold hands in circles under a tent after 8pm, the designated time to cease free speech at the base of the UCSC campus. There were numerous other instances of police brutality as well. One veteran reporter described the level of pain holds and brutality as the worst he'd seen since a 1973 prison riot.

A couple hours after the police began carrying people away one by one, a deal was struck between some of the TUSC organizers and members of the UCSC administration. The deal was that the UC administration would call off the police and allow TUSC to continue during the day on Tuesday if people began to disperse and no more than five people spent the night at the base of campus. The TUSC organizers accepted the deal causing a surreal scene where suddenly, at 12:17 am, the cops ran away and the people rejoiced. As one commenter wrote, "this was inspirational beyond words."

Photos and Copwatch: Cops Spoil Fun at Tent University Santa Cruz (TUSC) || Stages of an Action || Images from Monday Evening at TUSC || Agents of Repression and Big Brother || The Tent University Outrage - A Photo Editorial || Wanted: Information about an Under-Cover Cop || Monday Night at Tent U. || SCPD officer named Mark Eveleth

Audio: FRSC: Callins from TentU Protest Action || FSRN: Tent University Santa Cruz

Video: Arrests at Santa Cruz Tent University

See also: Updates from the Santa Cruz County Jail || www.Indymedia.us - Breaking News From Tent University, Santa Cruz || Mass Arrest of Tent University Santa Cruz || 18 Arrested at Peaceful Student Demonstration at UCSC || critique of reformist elements at Tent U. || Feel-good complacency or direct action? The lessons of Tent State Rutgers || Democracy Now! coverage || Solidarity from TSU Rutgers in New Jersey

Previous TUSC features: Tent University Santa Cruz, April 18-22: Claiming UCSC As Our Own || An Open Letter to the Campus Community from Lit Grads || TUSC Direct Democracy Forum Votes To Stay Put

A few quick highlights... more tomorrow.

UCSC Violently Cracks Down on Latest "Tent State" University

Archive of breaking news posted on www.Indymedia.us

A caller phoned in this information from outside the jail at 259 Water St in Santa Cruz.