Friends of Flora and Fauna is a non-profit organization which has established a Legal Defense Fund for students and other young people who are protesting UCSC expansion and have been targeted in a recent lawsuit by the UC Regents. Board members are Professor Bettina Aptheker (UCSC, Feminist Studies), Attorney Deborah Malkin, Professor Paul Ortiz (UCSC, Community Studies), Treasurer Mathilde Rand and Professor Zack Schlesinger (UCSC, Physics).

Please click here to see a letter written in response to the Regents lawsuit against protestors. The letter asks for your support and provides background information on the tree-sit civil disobedience and UCSC expansion plans.

You can now donate to the Legal Defense Fund online, with any credit card, via PayPal's secure service:

Recent news articles

Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 11, 2008:
Judge: Tree sitters must go; UCSC applauds ruling but activists say they are not going anywhere
Santa Cruz Sentinel, March 7, 2008:
Judge indicates support for UC Santa Cruz tree-sit injunction
Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 20, 2008:
30 UCSC faculty, staff support legal fund for tree-sitters
Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 1, 2008:
UC Santa Cruz moves to suspend student named in tree-sit case
Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 21, 2008:
UCSC maintains conduct not covered by free speech rights
Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 21, 2008:
Faculty leaders want UCSC to reverse policy of arresting tree-sit supporters
Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 11, 2008:
Police, tree sitters clash over food
Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 9, 2008:
UCSC demonstrators granted more time
Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 9, 2008:
UC Santa Cruz names tree sitters, own professor in civil complaint

Statement of purpose

From the Friends of Flora and Fauna articles of incorporation:

"The specific purposes for which this corporation is organized are to promote free speech in relation to development proposals; to assist community members in understanding and legally exercising their free speech rights; to serve as a source of information and as a referral network for the public; to speak out on behalf of flora and fauna; to assist members of the public in understanding the qualities of the environment; to educate the public about the relationship between humans and the environment; to provide classes and/or activities that teach members of the public about the relationship between humans and the environment; to work to protect the environment for all members of the public; to provide volunteers to assist at educational functions regarding the environment."