Media Conspiracy Archive
Santa Cruz Indymedia photographers Bradley Allen and Alex Darocy were charged with conspiracy, trespassing, and vandalism, because they reported on the occupation of an empty Wells Fargo building in Santa Cruz.
Approximately 50 supporters of the Santa Cruz Eleven packed into Department 6 of the Santa Cruz Courthouse on August 20 2012, for a hearing before Judge Paul Burdick to decide if the case against the seven remaining defendants would be dismissed.
The August 17 readiness hearing for seven of the Santa Cruz Eleven drew to a close with optimism for the defendants, and a weekend of work for District Attorney Rebekah Young.
The seven remaining defendants in the 75 River Street case will have a preliminary hearing before Judge Burdick on August 20th.
Judge Burdick, who previously expressed that he would rather not have to preside over this case anymore, stated, "Once again, we are stuck with each other Ms. Young."
“I don’t want people to think, ‘You went before a judge, the judge was fair, the charges were dismissed, everything’s cool.’ It’s not cool.”
On Tuesday, May 15th and Friday, May 18th, supporters of the Santa Cruz Eleven held banners above the slow-moving southbound traffic on Highway 1 in Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz District Attorney's Office tried to paint them as activists while ensuring Thaler, the Santa Cruz Sentinel photographer, was there as a bona fide journalist. Fortunately, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick saw through that flimsy argument and dismissed all charges against Allen and Darocy.
On May 4th, over a hundred people gathered at the Santa Cruz Courthouse for a press conference, march, and rally organized by the Watsonville Brown Berets to demand District Attorney Bob Lee drop the charges against the Santa Cruz Eleven.