At 8:30am 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.

At around the same time as the blockade, a few blocks away, a banner reading "REMEMBER SOUTH CENTRAL FARM -- FUCK RALPH HOROWITZ -- FUCK LAPD -- SOUTHCENTRALFARMERS.COM" was dropped over Highway 1 in Santa Cruz, California. Countless commuters and parents of graduating UCSC students witnessed the 20+ foot long banner, which was suspended from the outside of a chain-link cage that fully encloses the pedestrian walkway over the highway, and honks of support rang out from the traffic below. The banner stayed in place for at least an hour before being removed.

In the days since the eviction, there have been expressions of support for the farmers of South Central throughout Santa Cruz. People have been spreading the word 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."

photos from these actions can be viewed on Santa Cruz Indymedia at:

http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/06/16/18281016.php

http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/06/16/18281005.php

Learn about the struggle to save the South Central Farm and how you can help at:

http://www.southcentralfarmers.com/

http://www.southcentralfarmers.org/