lang: en
Summary
From November 2007 to December 2008, students, faculty, and community members at the University of California, Santa Cruz occupied trees to protest the university’s Long Range Development Plan, which would destroy 120 acres of second-generation redwood forest. Despite a lawsuit and sustained tree-sitting, the campaign failed to stop the expansion, but it delayed construction and raised public awareness.
Background
In 2003, UC Santa Cruz began developing a Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) that would destroy 120 acres of redwood forest and add 4,500 students, straining local water supplies and endangering species like the Burrowing Owl and Red-Legged Frog. In response, a UCSC alum formed the Coalition to Limit University Expansion (CLUE), which filed a lawsuit in February 2007 to halt the expansion. Meanwhile, activists turned to direct action by occupying the trees.
What happened
On November 7, 2007, at 1am, twelve activists hoisted platforms into redwood trees slated for a new biomedical building. [source: nv-database] Police arrested one person and later pepper-sprayed and used batons on supporters bringing food. [source: nv-database] That day, 400 people marched to the site, pushing police back and occupying the grove. [source: nv-database] An encampment was built, and teach-ins, dances, and potlucks were held until December 13, when the encampment was removed for winter break. [source: nv-database] The university filed a lawsuit against the tree sitters on December 14, and police arrested a student on December 20 and a professor on December 21. [source: nv-database] On January 12, 2008, police attacked twenty supporters with pepper spray and batons. [source: nv-database] In response, the university banned two students from campus until late March and required community service. [source: nv-database] On March 10, a judge dismissed the lawsuit against two protesters on First Amendment grounds and issued a preliminary injunction against seven others. [source: nv-database] In August, CLUE settled its lawsuit, gaining a review by an independent state body but no change in environmental impact. [source: nv-database] Mediation in November-December failed, and on December 12, 2008, ninety police watched as the last platforms were removed; one student was arrested for refusing to leave. [source: nv-database] The tree sit ultimately failed to stop the expansion [source: nv-database].
Key people & organizations
- Coalition to Limit University Expansion (CLUE)
- University of California-Santa Cruz administration
- campus police
- County Judge Burdick
Tactics used
The tree sit used nonviolent occupation to physically block construction and draw media attention, while coalition-building through CLUE pursued legal channels. The combination of direct action and litigation aimed to pressure the university from multiple angles. [source: nv-database]
Outcome
Verdict: lost.
The campaign achieved 0 out of 6 points for success in demands, as the university refused to change its expansion plan. However, it survived for over a year and grew in support, earning 4 out of 10 total points. The settlement with CLUE did not alter the immediate environmental impact, and the tree sit ended without halting construction. [source: nv-database]
Lessons
- Nonviolent occupation can delay projects and build public awareness even if it does not achieve its primary goal.
- Combining legal action with direct action can create multiple pressure points on an opponent.
- Sustained protest requires logistical support and community involvement to maintain morale and supplies.
Sources
- Global Nonviolent Action Database —
[[nv-database]]
Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.
Sources & verification
nv-database— grounding: primary — license: link-only- Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via
worker_casestudies_v2.py