me
2011-06-12 22:02:26 UTC
There has been a protest in front of the Santa Cruz county courthouse
called Peace Camp 2010 to end the Santa Cruz sleeping ban.
A few days ago, two of the protesters were sentenced to 6 months in
jail.
Reports can be found at
http://beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blogspot.com and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/huffsantacruz
See also the comments at the University of California Santa Cruz
student newspaper
http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/05/05/county-shouldnt-punish-civic-activists/
Below is an excerpt from the radio program Bathrobespierre's
Braodsides on Santa Cruz Pirate Radio http://www.freakradio.com
Radio Interview and Debate between:
Robert Norse, Radio host, against the sleeping ban
Edwin Frey, Attorney and Santa Cruz Peace Camp Protester, against the
sleeping ban
Mike Rotkin, (former) Mayor of Santa Cruz and University of California
Santa Cruz, in favor of the sleeping ban
Linda Lemaster, Santa Cruz Activist, against the sleeping ban
Chris the Curb Hugger, against the sleeping ban
Miguel Balderos, Jail Inmate, on telephone, against the sleeping ban
July 11, 2010
http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb100711.mp3
Excerpt edited for clarity, relevancy. If in doubt please read it
while listening to it. Some words inaudible, omitted.
Excerpt starting at 3:31:49 on the internet player's progress bar:
-------------
Norse: Excuse me Linda, I have to interrupt. I have a phone call
from Miguel Balderos who is accused of setting fire to the City
Attorney's office. Miguel, do you have a question for the Mayor or a
comment on this case?
Balderos: You got that (adjective inaudible) liberal on, that
oppressor who has indirectly caused the death of God knows how many
people, right? ....Yeah, I'll be glad when all those oligarchy will
get out of power..
Norse: (questions, intro)
Yeah, sleep is not a crime, it is a right. It is a right and not a
privilege written by yuppies. I know where Mike Rotkin lives, if I
wanted to I could have fire bombed his house. He's got a place to
sleep and he's trying to criminalize people who are trying to sleep.
Sleep deprivation makes people do crazy shit. It's like a mental
disorder, they go crazy. (It makes them) do drugs and alcohol (if
they already do them). You do sanctuaries for animals - even a rat
has a fuckin' hole to go into, but human beings are being treated less
than animals, so what do you think about that?
(I've been homeless for) 4 years. I didn't even know Mike Rotkin was
going to be on the air because I'm in a complete blackout in jail. If
I knew I wouldn't even call because I really loathe the man, I mean
he's - really - an enemy of the people, an oppressor, in the same
category as Bush and Dick Cheney and he should be lined up against the
wall and shot. I know someone who died at his hands, Billy, of
hypothermia, because the sleeping ban does not allow you to put a
blanket over you. Women are getting raped because they have to go
further and further away in the bushes to avoid the special fucking
Gestapo to avoid a ticket so they don't have to go to jail. And then
there are people who get eaten by mountain lions in the hills - you
don't know the whole story of the whole thing.. Fuck the police. Fuck
the police state. Fuck Mike Rotkin in the city hall too.
(cut off by Norse, phone call ends)
Norse: So we have strong opinions, and I'm trying to represent
everyone on the show...to give everyone a voice here We have a Peace
Camp here, we have a War Camp over there,
Rotkin (to Norse): Do you think that fire bombing things is a good way
to express your opinion?
Norse: Do I? No, that is generally not my chosen venue of approach.
Rotkin: But with you it is ok if other people do it, right? I'm
putting you on the spot here Robert. Is it ok for other people to
express their opinions by blowing stuff up, threatening my house...
Norse: No, I don't. But I understand the passion that is behind that
kind of statement. I understand the reason he is pissed at you.
Rotkin: So you're going to justify it right now.
Norse: Justify it?
Rotkin: I'm just waiting, Robert. I want to know where you stand on
this issue. I've got you on the spot now, Robert..
Norse: No, I don't think so..
Rotkin: Do you think that this is good for your cause when people do
that kind of stuff...
Norse: C'mon Mike, what do you think..
Rotkin: I DON'T KNOW, ROBERT... You haven't told me what you think...
Norse: I did. I already said so. Obviously, fire bombing your
house would produce more sympathy (for you), and also I wouldn't like
to see your house fire bombed, I kinda like you as a person. However,
I understand why people get pissed about these issues. And I think
you do too. Frankly, people are sleep deprived so c'mon.
(silence, several seconds)
Lemaster: I think the "sleep deprived" only gets across as well as it
can on the radio. It gets more dramatic when there's a cop with a BIG
BRIGHT LIGHT waking you up and expecting you to be coherent before you
know what's going on...
Norse: And it becomes worse when you give reasonable proposals to the
mayor...
snip
Frey: I just want to make it clear that it is my position that the
city council ought to recognize the fact that they are sending the
police out to breach the peace, and to accost homeless people who are
not breaking the law. They are not guilty, yet the police are waking
them up and making them go through this dance at the courthouse, then
this dance to the Homeless Service Center, and then back to the
courthouse when they have no means of transportation, they have no
time since they're supposed to be looking for work - so you're
punishing these people before the judge, before the court and all its
majesty says "Not Guilty". If they're not guilty, Mike, then call off
the cops, damn it. What's so hard to understand about that?
snip
called Peace Camp 2010 to end the Santa Cruz sleeping ban.
A few days ago, two of the protesters were sentenced to 6 months in
jail.
Reports can be found at
http://beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blogspot.com and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/huffsantacruz
See also the comments at the University of California Santa Cruz
student newspaper
http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/05/05/county-shouldnt-punish-civic-activists/
Below is an excerpt from the radio program Bathrobespierre's
Braodsides on Santa Cruz Pirate Radio http://www.freakradio.com
Radio Interview and Debate between:
Robert Norse, Radio host, against the sleeping ban
Edwin Frey, Attorney and Santa Cruz Peace Camp Protester, against the
sleeping ban
Mike Rotkin, (former) Mayor of Santa Cruz and University of California
Santa Cruz, in favor of the sleeping ban
Linda Lemaster, Santa Cruz Activist, against the sleeping ban
Chris the Curb Hugger, against the sleeping ban
Miguel Balderos, Jail Inmate, on telephone, against the sleeping ban
July 11, 2010
http://www.radiolibre.org/brb/brb100711.mp3
Excerpt edited for clarity, relevancy. If in doubt please read it
while listening to it. Some words inaudible, omitted.
Excerpt starting at 3:31:49 on the internet player's progress bar:
-------------
Norse: Excuse me Linda, I have to interrupt. I have a phone call
from Miguel Balderos who is accused of setting fire to the City
Attorney's office. Miguel, do you have a question for the Mayor or a
comment on this case?
Balderos: You got that (adjective inaudible) liberal on, that
oppressor who has indirectly caused the death of God knows how many
people, right? ....Yeah, I'll be glad when all those oligarchy will
get out of power..
Norse: (questions, intro)
Yeah, sleep is not a crime, it is a right. It is a right and not a
privilege written by yuppies. I know where Mike Rotkin lives, if I
wanted to I could have fire bombed his house. He's got a place to
sleep and he's trying to criminalize people who are trying to sleep.
Sleep deprivation makes people do crazy shit. It's like a mental
disorder, they go crazy. (It makes them) do drugs and alcohol (if
they already do them). You do sanctuaries for animals - even a rat
has a fuckin' hole to go into, but human beings are being treated less
than animals, so what do you think about that?
(I've been homeless for) 4 years. I didn't even know Mike Rotkin was
going to be on the air because I'm in a complete blackout in jail. If
I knew I wouldn't even call because I really loathe the man, I mean
he's - really - an enemy of the people, an oppressor, in the same
category as Bush and Dick Cheney and he should be lined up against the
wall and shot. I know someone who died at his hands, Billy, of
hypothermia, because the sleeping ban does not allow you to put a
blanket over you. Women are getting raped because they have to go
further and further away in the bushes to avoid the special fucking
Gestapo to avoid a ticket so they don't have to go to jail. And then
there are people who get eaten by mountain lions in the hills - you
don't know the whole story of the whole thing.. Fuck the police. Fuck
the police state. Fuck Mike Rotkin in the city hall too.
(cut off by Norse, phone call ends)
Norse: So we have strong opinions, and I'm trying to represent
everyone on the show...to give everyone a voice here We have a Peace
Camp here, we have a War Camp over there,
Rotkin (to Norse): Do you think that fire bombing things is a good way
to express your opinion?
Norse: Do I? No, that is generally not my chosen venue of approach.
Rotkin: But with you it is ok if other people do it, right? I'm
putting you on the spot here Robert. Is it ok for other people to
express their opinions by blowing stuff up, threatening my house...
Norse: No, I don't. But I understand the passion that is behind that
kind of statement. I understand the reason he is pissed at you.
Rotkin: So you're going to justify it right now.
Norse: Justify it?
Rotkin: I'm just waiting, Robert. I want to know where you stand on
this issue. I've got you on the spot now, Robert..
Norse: No, I don't think so..
Rotkin: Do you think that this is good for your cause when people do
that kind of stuff...
Norse: C'mon Mike, what do you think..
Rotkin: I DON'T KNOW, ROBERT... You haven't told me what you think...
Norse: I did. I already said so. Obviously, fire bombing your
house would produce more sympathy (for you), and also I wouldn't like
to see your house fire bombed, I kinda like you as a person. However,
I understand why people get pissed about these issues. And I think
you do too. Frankly, people are sleep deprived so c'mon.
(silence, several seconds)
Lemaster: I think the "sleep deprived" only gets across as well as it
can on the radio. It gets more dramatic when there's a cop with a BIG
BRIGHT LIGHT waking you up and expecting you to be coherent before you
know what's going on...
Norse: And it becomes worse when you give reasonable proposals to the
mayor...
snip
Frey: I just want to make it clear that it is my position that the
city council ought to recognize the fact that they are sending the
police out to breach the peace, and to accost homeless people who are
not breaking the law. They are not guilty, yet the police are waking
them up and making them go through this dance at the courthouse, then
this dance to the Homeless Service Center, and then back to the
courthouse when they have no means of transportation, they have no
time since they're supposed to be looking for work - so you're
punishing these people before the judge, before the court and all its
majesty says "Not Guilty". If they're not guilty, Mike, then call off
the cops, damn it. What's so hard to understand about that?
snip