Santa Cruz Homeless activists initiated a homeless protest at City Hall on August 13, 2007. The peaceful protest included watching documentaries on the civil rights movement, police violence and injustice in Santa Cruz and a video of the demolishing of homeless sleeping bags, backpacks after an illegal eviction after an illegal eviction from the last cheap hotel in the area. Two protestors sleeping on the lawn of City Hall were given tickets when still asleep at 7 AM sparking an endless protest at City Hall and on Pacific Avenue.

The Santa Cruz sleeping ban law, which makes sleeping outside or in a vehicle from 11 PM to 8 AM illegal and subject to a ninety dollar fine when shelter space or any legal sleeping area in the city is unavailable. Documentaries of the civil rights movement, police violence and the bulldozing of Skid Row sleeping bags in LA were shown. The very peaceful protest allowed homeless people to meet and share cookies, coffee and stories. The morning of August 14 two sleeping campers were given tickets when they refused to move along at 7 AM. This police action has homeless activists vowing to continue an endless protest against the sleeping ban in Santa Cruz. Those sleeping outside or in a vehicle are encouraged to join the protest and show solidarity and a willingness to free themselves from the oppression of being unable to sleep during normal nighttime hours, as well as tenants living in illegal and substandard housing and homeowners who support the right of people to sleep when no legal sleeping area has been designated by the city. Protestors have been clean, sober, quiet and self-regulated. A petition against the sleeping ban is available to sign. A second pod of protestors is also being set up on Pacific Avenue. Donations of warm blankets, hoodies, coffee and food are welcome as well as a kind word and validation of the need of all to sleep without fear.

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