Agents Raid Santa Cruz Pirate Station
Agents of the U.S. Marshals Service – with their guns drawn – served a
warrant on a Santa Cruz pirate radio station early Wednesday, rousting and
frisking the pajama-clad residents of the co-op house from which the station
had been broadcasting. No one was arrested. “This is not a criminal action
against people,” said Supervising Deputy Cheryl Koel.

The target was Free Radio Santa Cruz, an FM micro-station boasting 35 to 40
watts of power and offering round-the-clock music, activism and other local
programming – all in defiance of federal licensing laws.

The marshals, along with agents of the FCC, dismantled the station's equipment
and carried it to a waiting pickup as a crowd of around 60 people yelled
“Shame! Shame!” and “Go home!”

Residents, programmers, friends of alternative radio and enemies of corporate
media were joined by two city council members, one council candidate and two
congressional candidates.