Alex Darocy Photography

On November 29, Black Friday protesters positioned themselves in various locations at the Capitola Mall to raise awareness about SodaStream, a product that is produced in a factory built on illegal Israeli settlements located on occupied indigenous Palestinian lands. Santa Cruz community members wore black and held large banners that read "Boycott SodaStream." The product allows users to make flavored carbonated drinks at home. SodaStream is sold in the Santa Cruz area at Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Chefworks, and Macy's, Kohl's, among others, but demonstrators chose the Capitola Mall's Target store as the primary location of the Black Friday protest because of that company's overtly stated commitment to "corporate responsibility" and "responsible sourcing." Target's website has a plethora of web pages dedicated to the company's declared interest in these and other issues pertaining to environmental and social justice. A...

Students and workers at UC Santa Cruz blocked both entrances and shut the campus down in support of a University of California-wide unfair labor practices strike on November 20, called for by AFSCME 3299. [Top video: compilation of clips from the blockade of the west entrance of UCSC and the march down to the main entrance of campus.] According to a statement released by AFSCME 3299, the Unfair Labor Practices strike was called in response to a, "coordinated campaign of illegal intimidation, coercion, and threats," against UC Patient Care and Service Workers who participated in a walk out in May over unsafe staffing levels at UC supported hospitals. Workers on all UC Campuses and Medical Centers statewide participated in the strike. Workers represented by AFSCME include custodians, food service workers, cooks, bus drivers, licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, medical assistants, and techs. Joining AFSCME on the picket line in Santa Cruz were members of UAW ...

The family of Andy Lopez, the 13-year-old killed by Sonoma County Sheriff's Deputy Erick Gelhaus on October 22, marched with supporters from downtown Santa Rosa to the Sonoma County Hall of Justice on November 5. They are demanding an independent investigation be conducted into the killing of Andy, and that District Attorney Jill Ravitch arrest Gelhaus immediately. The family and supporters also want the location of Andy's killing, an empty lot on Moorland Avenue, to be turned into a memorial park in his honor. [Videos: a representative of the Lopez family speaks after meeting with the Sonoma County District Attorney; Friend of Andy Lopez; Youth Speak; David Douglass of BAMN; Oscar Grant Family Attorney John Burris; Christina Arechiga of the CA Statewide Coalition Against Police Brutality; Kris Kelley, Sister of Mario Romero; Cyndi Mitchell, Sister of Mario Romero; I Am Andy Lopez Mic Check; Jordan of the Chickenfoot Ranch and Activist Center.] Marchers followed a truck ...

On October 30, a "unity" march was held in Santa Rosa for Andy Lopez, the 13-year-old with a toy gun who was shot and killed by Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy Erick Gelhaus on October 22. The march began in the Roseland area of the city, and block by block the group swelled as marchers headed downtown to Old Court House Square where speakers were heard that included the friends and family of Andy. Hundreds participated in the unity march, which brought together the diverse neighborhoods of south-west Santa Rosa. An equally large march from downtown Santa Rosa to the Sonoma County Sheriff's department was held the previous day on October 29. Organizers described the unity march in an event announcement as follows: "This event hopes to bring together the diverse communities of Santa Rosa for a massive demonstration of unity against police brutality, gun violence, and racial profiling in our neighborhoods and a call for justice in the brutal slaying of A...