By Khalida Sarwari
‘Occupy Santa Cruz’ protesters are demonstrating this afternoon in opposition to the provisions of a permit issued by the city last week.
The group planned to rally on the steps of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court at 701 Ocean St. at 2:30 p.m. and then march to City Hall at 809 Center St.
As the protesters were preparing to assemble on the courthouse steps this afternoon, a sheriff’s lieutenant came by and asked them to remove a geodesic dome they had set up outside the building, said Michael Donehoo, a spokesman for the group.
The lieutenant said that if the dome — described by Donehoo as a soccer ball-shaped metal shelter — hadn’t been removed by 1 p.m., he and other deputies would cut it apart, according to Donehoo.
As of 2 p.m., however, the dome was still there and the lieutenant had not returned, Donehoo said. He said a few protesters were planning to stay behind to protect the dome during the rally and march.
He said the dome is a replacement for a pop-up tent the group had used to protect its literature table from rain and wind. The dome is sturdier and can better withstand the elements as the season changes, he said.
At City Hall, members of the group planned to deliver a statement addressing the group’s dissatisfaction with a permit issued by the city on Friday that places “limitations on our ability to protest,” said Mitchell Colbert, an acting spokesman for the group.
He said the limitations include a stipulation that the group identify a leader who would be responsible for paying for any damage incurred by the group, which goes against the group’s philosophy of being a leaderless movement, Mitchell said.
Most troublesome about the permit, he said, is a deadline for the protesters to clear out of San Lorenzo Park at noon on Nov. 16.
The site has been the heart of the “Occupy Santa Cruz” movement for the past 35 days, and roughly three-dozen tents have been erected there, Colbert said.
According to a statement by City Manager Martin Bernal, the city issued a “non-commercial event permit” to the protesters.
“While the use of the park for the exercise of First Amendment rights by Occupy Santa Cruz demonstrators is a legitimate use of city park property, the city not only has the legal prerogative, but a fiduciary obligation to other community members to regulate the time, place and manner of that First Amendment use,” the statement read.
The protesters today will deliver a letter to city officials stating their dissatisfaction with the permit and asking for an opportunity to negotiate.
“We want an open negotiation with the city to ensure that this remains a lawful protest and to prevent interactions with police,” Mitchell said. “We want to stay there after November 16.”
