Santa Cruz: Solidarity Action with South Center Farm shuts down streets

At 8:30 am Friday morning, demonstrators staged a blockade at a central Santa Cruz intersection (at Laurel St. & Mission St/Hwy 1) as a gesture of solidarity with the hundreds of families who lost their land in Tuesday's forced eviction of the South Central Farm in Los Angeles. Holding signs both large and small, the 30 or so demonstrators blocked traffic at the intersection with A-frames, a stray sofa, and at least four dumpsters rolled in from nearby businesses. Flyers explaining the legacy of the Farm were distributed to the delayed drivers with responses ranging from enthusiastic interest to violent threats. No one was injured, nor were any citations or arrests made during the action.

In the days since the eviction, there have been expressions of support for the farmers of South Central throughout Santa Cruz. People have spoken about the eviction at concerts and informal gatherings, and an interview with activists who were present during the eviction has been in continuous rotation on Free Radio Santa Cruz. Even the marquee at the Food Bin health food store on the corner reads:

"SOLIDARITY SO. CENTRAL FARM."

Learn about the struggle to save the South Central Farm and how you can help at southcentralfarmers.com and southcentralfarmers.org.

At about the same time that the blockade began, a 20+ foot banner was unfurled over a Hwy 1 overpass reading:

"REMEMBER SOUTH CENTRAL FARM--FUCK RALPH HOROWITZ--FUCK LAPD--SOUTHCENTRALFARMERS.COM."

http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/