Noise Demonstration at the County Jail in Solidarity with the Occupy Santa Cruz Arrestees

In solidarity with those arrested when the Occupy Santa Cruz encampment at San Lorenzo Park was raided by authorities the previous morning, community members held a noise demonstration and rally at the Santa Cruz County Jail on the evening of Friday, December 9. Approximately 50-75 community members brought percussion instruments and five gallon plastic water jugs and proceeded to drum in mass to communicate to the prisoners inside of the jail that community members would not give up support of their cause, and also to show the "compassion and fire" felt for those interned, and to stand strong when faced with police repression locally.

By the time the demonstration began on Friday at the county courthouse, five out of the six arrestees had been released. When initially booked into jail, unusually high bail amounts of $25,000-$50,000 were set for the individuals' who faced basic misdemeanor charges. They were charged with "obstructing an officer" even though some of them were only standing on the sidewalk observing the removal of the Occupy Santa Cruz camp, and moving back when authorities suggested they do so.

In addition to the noisemaking marching around the outer perimeter of the jail, a rally was held at the rear entrance. Community members spoke passionately about those inside. "There's brothers in there I have talked to who wanted to come out and support the camp, and were looking for a place to stay potentially when they got out, and now the camp's not there and they're not sure where they are going to go, and we are, occupy is a family, and it is a home to many people and so keep it going, keep it up. Brothers and sisters inside support it fully and whole heartedly," said one individual.

It was then asked if anyone wanted to sing a song, and a woman lead the group in the repeated choruses, "Who will sing the song, for the fallen down, beautiful ones, and how will redemption come for the stricken down beautiful ones?"

At 6pm, demonstrators left, and some attended the Occupy Santa Cruz general assembly that evening. The group's general assemblies are still being held after more than two months, on the steps of the county courthouse on Water Street.

For more information on how to help those arrested, see:
http://welovetheoscarrestees.blogspot.com/

For more information about Occupy Santa Cruz, see:
http://occupysantacruz.org/