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"Negotiations" with the sheriffs, more celebs, and daily life. All to save the South Central Farm.
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SOUTH CENTRAL FARM, 3 June 2006--Living on the Farm, dirty fingernails, eating just-plucked food, daily meetings, outdoor showers, and good conversation would be an easy routine to fall into. But at the South Central Farm, the pastoral life is interrupted by a steady stream of media and celebrities, and conviviality and community is built as much from the tension of impending arrest as it is by common work and values.
Farm supporters today began their twelfth day of occupation of the South Central Farm today and await the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department's execution of an eviction order. Bulldozers are expected to follow the sheriffs within forty-eight hours. Vigils at the Farm continue, daily at 7:00 p.m., and yesterday Global Women's Strike recruited volunteers to help out, hang out, or stay at the Farm. Community presence at the Farm is a critical component of the strategy to save the Farm.
The sheriffs moved a scheduled Tuesday meeting with the Farmers to Thursday, allowing two more days for food to grow. On Thursday, the LS County sheriffs held two meetings with Farm supporters. The first included notable tree-sitters Julia Butterfly Hill, John Quigley, who have been occupying a walnut tree in defense of the Farm, and elected Farm representative Tezozomoc. The sheriffs assured them that they respected what these Farm supporters were trying to do, and that the sheriffs would take measures to protect their personal belongings. "We're not stormtroopers," the sheriff's representative reportedly assured Hill, Quigley, and Tezozomoc.
At a second meeting on the same day, sheriffs told the Farm's attorney, Dan Stormer, that the groundlings "would be lucky" if the sheriffs gave them five minutes warning. Those who voluntarily removed themselves in that five minutes would be cited and released. The sheriffs threatened that anyone who remained after the warning with trespassing and other charges, and promised them arrests and jail time.
Ted Hayes, Orange County resident and organizer of a local contingent of minutemen, appeared outside the Farm last night. Hayes recently helped organize a small anti-migrant march down Broadway in Los Angeles, along the path of the pro-migrant marches of March 25 and May 1. Hayes was quickly identified and escorted back to his car by twenty Farm supporters. The purpose of Hayes' visit is not known.
Meanwhile, Hollywood celebrities continue to bring their spotlight to the Farm. Thursday's guest was anti-war activist Danny Glover, who as attracted the wrath of right-wing war-supporters for his anti-war and pro-Cuba positions. Friday's visitor was outspoken animal rights advocate and vegan Alicia Silverstone.
Developer Ralph Horowitz served the representatives of the Farm with a $729K lawsuit for "abuse of the legal system," for pursing legal remedies in the courts to save the Farm.