This year, the month of February has an extra day - Leap Day, Sunday the 29th. This unclaimed, extra day allows a window for us to jump out of the runaway train of modern society. Let this day be a blank canvas, which we can transform into anything our hearts and minds desire for the world we most want to live in. Let us tap into our own wild, fearless creativity to turn the everyday grind of war, capitalism and inequality into a new society based on mutual aid, cooperation, freedom and love. In short, let us use Leap Day as a no-holds-barred day of action to break out of the mold we as activists have been stuck in for far too long.

The call for a day of action on Leap Day is completely open-ended, with nothing off-limits in terms of tactics, goals, or strategies. Some of us have already begun planning a party of sorts, which will take place on Leap Day and will feature creative resistance, anarchist fun and games, and much more. And everyone who wishes Santa Cruz and our society as a whole to become greater, fairer, more equal and free is invited. Bring yourself, any costumes, toys, music, art, and anything else that helps you create the new world within the dying shell of this one.

Converge at 1 PM on Sunday (2/29) at San Lorenzo Park

Pirates Reclaim The Streets at Haight & Ashbury On Valentine's Day

[ Background on Reclaim The Streets I RTS, San Francisco I A Modality of Resistance I Organizing Suggestions ]

Santa Cruz Night Out is a community based event downtown where families and visitors will enjoy a variety of events showcasing the diverse cultural talents of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Night Out is planned for three Tuesday nights in August from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. The purpose of Santa Cruz Night Out is to create an open-air street fair atmosphere on Pacific Avenue (between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets) for families to enjoy while invigorating downtown businesses on a weeknight.

Many in Santa Cruz are interested in events downtown that will enrich our community while helping local businesses. Recent downtown issues and the resulting negative publicity, combined with the economic downturn have taken a toll on the health of Pacific Avenue. Santa Cruz Night Out will hope to address the issues above.

Would you like to see the diverse talents of Santa Cruz displayed in your downtown? Would you like to experience downtown from a whole different perspective? Wonder what Pacific Avenue would be with less cars cruising the street and more space for the community to gather?

[ Discussion and Details of Santa Cruz Night Out I Photos: (8/12) 1 - 2 I (8/19) 3 I (8/26) 4 ]

Repression of the First Ammendment is rising on Pacific Ave. On Monday June 30th, two Downtown-For-All activists were ticketed for playing a video on the street in front of the Pacific Trading Company. A third man got a ticket for "sitting on" the recently adjusted Walnut St. planter. On Sunday July 6th, two men were arrested while distributing literature on Pacific Avenue. Both had their literature tables, signs, and literature confiscated by the police and taken in as evidence of their supposed crime.

While being filmed by fellow activists, both Steve Argue and Matt Hartogh refused to move their political table and refused to sign a ticket when asked to do so. Steve Argue instead cited the right to free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution and pointed out that the Santa Cruz City Council and the arresting officers were the ones who were actually in violation of the law.

[ Police Shut Down Video Screening I Political Tablers Arrested I Resisting the "Move Along" ]

 

During a one week period a couple of weeks ago, John Maurer was given four different citations by the Santa Cruz Police Department, including one for having a sign on his hat saying
"Fuck the Pigs (Police)" while panhandling. As this was the second citation for the same offense, he faces possible misdemeanor charges on the second infraction. In neither case was the offensive sign or language used while soliciting anyone for money.

On May 30, between 60 and 80 cyclists were peacefully riding down California street when two motorcycle cops singled out a rider and cut off several other cyclists in the process. "Blue Beard" was pulled off his bike and chased across Bay street to the top of Neary Lagoon. When other cyclists arrived he was face down on the ground and badly injured.

"...we saw more flames coming up followed by a second smaller mushroom which I believe came after the second smaller explosion."“

Eugenia Johnson of Port Alto, Texas

Free on $10,000 bail, Tom Delay's problems are only beginning. Although currently under indictment for abuse of campaign funds, the source of this enormous long-term funding comes from a legacy of crime that makes Al Capone look like an amateur...
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