On Saturday September 13, local demonstrators converged on the north steps (facing Water St.) of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse for a march and rally. Featured speakers provided a brief background on the negative impacts of our nation's current globalization policies.

Former Green Giant employees Rosario and Ricardo Gomez of Watsonville discussed the impacts that the neoliberal agenda has had on campesinos, including many maize (corn) farmers, in their hometown of Michoacan, Mexico. Stephen Zunes and Bert Muhly (former mayor of Santa Cruz 1974-75) also addressed the crowd on the courthouse steps.

Demonstators then took to the sidewalks and bike lane for a march down Pacific Ave. ending up at the Laurel Street Park. Musicians performed, Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs served up delicious grub, and children used the time to work on arts and crafts.

Saturday's events were organized in solidarity with demonstrations against the World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings in Cancun, Mexico and coincided with similar demonstrations all over the world which called for globalization for the well being of people, as opposed to globalization based on profit and greed.

For more information on Saturday's march and rally or to get involved in a future manifestation against the new world order, you can contact Susan Zeman of the Santa Cruz Peace Coalition >> 831-423-1626, ext. 308 or susanzeman (at) baymoon.com

Ya Basta!

~Bradley
See also:
http://cancun.mediosindependientes.org/feature/display/758/index.php
http://cancun.mediosindependientes.org/feature/display/681/index.php