Alex Darocy Photography

Pale Robin Mathew of Matador "Crickets" by Wesley Mathew of Matador The Gembrokers As the sun began to set on May 4, community members and students made their way to a "secret" location north of Kresge College at UC Santa Cruz for a "Forest Show" that was organized to raise awareness about the university's planned expansion. Presently, 240 acres of upper campus forest is threatened, as is the Porter Meadow, and also the location of the evening's show. Musical acts Matador, Pale Robin, and The Gembrokers played acoustic sets around a campfire in the middle of an open portion of the mixed evergreen forest, surrounded by tall Redwoods and Douglas Fir trees. A flier for the show announced that the event was an opportunity for people to, "connect with the land proposed to be destroyed by UCSC's Long Range Development Plan." At the height of the evening appro...

In downtown Santa Cruz on April 20, LGBQT community members from the Diversity Center's Youth Program and their family members and allies held a "Breaking the Silence" rally in front of the Del Mar Theatre before a showing of the film "Bully". People held signs and shared stories There was a group shout out, and many involved with the youth program wore tape x'd over their mouths to both symbolize the silencing effect of bullying on the LGBQT youth community, as well as to be an expression of solidarity with those who could not attend the rally in person for many different reasons of privacy. During this segment of the rally, a woman talks about why some bullies might want to hurt others. To read more and view photos from the rally, see: Community Members "Break the Silence" at LGBQT Youth Rally in Santa Cruz http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/04/23/18711937.php

On stage: George Galvis, J.R. Laiwa, his son Kaashun Laiwa, and Manuel La Fontaine sing the American Indian Movement (AIM) theme song at the National Occupy Day in Support of Prisoners, which was held outside of the east gate at San Quentin State Prison on February 20, 2012. Joining them onstage were several younger singers, including Mikaela Galvis, Ayacaxtli Galvis, and Talissa Gali. Morning Star Gali, who spoke just prior to the songs, can be seen as well.

From the solidarity demonstration at Wells Fargo Bank (located at 74 River Street) on February 15, 2012 supporting the arrestees associated with the 75 River Street empty bank occupation: As soon as he arrived at the peaceful sidewalk demonstration and exited the patrol vehicle, Steve Clark, a deputy chief at the Santa Cruz Police Department, immediately walked right up to Brent Adams (who has extensively video documented Occupy Santa Cruz) and threatened to add an additional criminal charge to those that he already faces (including felonies) in connection to the 75 River Street vacant bank occupation court case (the charges were announced and warrants were issued on February 7). So far 11 people have been charged in association with the December 2011 occupation, and all are charged with felonies. A good majority of the group of those charged are journalists. Another person charged in the occupation and depicted in this video is homeless advocate and journalist, Robert Norse. D...

Scott Olsen (with the neck brace) laughs during the march to the Oakland port for the West Coast Port Shutdown when the march chant changes from, "Whose Port?" to "Whose Police?" Olsen helped carry the front banner in this march, which traveled from Oscar Grant Plaza to the port.

The Brass Liberation Orchestra plays during the march to the port in Oakland for the West Coast Port Shutdown on December 12, 2011.

The man in the first photo was playing guitar while sitting against the bike lockers located adjacent to the metro center on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. When the guide (who was walking with a First Alarm security guard) approached the man she said to him, “you can’t be sitting and playing here.” The man immediately stopped playing, stood up, and moved. In the second photo (which was taken 20 minutes after the first photo), the same hospitality guide encountered a teenage man sitting on the railing of a planter located across Pacific Avenue from the Old Theatre building, and told him, “don’t sit on the railing.” A detail from that photo shows an older woman leaning against the rail. The guide did not approach or speak to her. From the Hospitality Program web page: The Hospitality Guide Program’s (HGP) mission is to assist in promoting a clean, safe, and friendly atmosphere for shoppers, residents, employees and visitors. This mission is accomplished in the following...