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Indybay Feature
Power to the Peaceful Festival 2006, 9/9/06
On Saturday, September 9th, Musician and Filmmaker, Michael Franti and his group Spearhead with Guerrilla Management present the 8th Annual 911 Power to the Peaceful Festival at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park.
The Festival began humbly in 1999 as an international day of art and culture in support of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. The name and date “911” were chosen to call attention to the emergency status of Mumia’s impending execution and drew roughly 6,000 people to the Mission’s Dolores Park. In 2000, PTTP expanded; showing support for all prisoners on death row, and speaking out against the exponential growth of the prison industrial complex.
When the attacks of September 11th, 2001 occurred, the festival took on a new significance, serving both as a day of remembrance for the lives lost in the tragedy as well as a day in which Northern Californians called for and end to all bombing around the globe. The 2002 and 2003 events offered a space for healing and compassion for all the people killed or displaced by terrorism and the war on terrorism. By this time, the festival had outgrown Dolores Park, and was resituated in the lush mile acre of Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park, with over 20,000 people attending. In 2004 the festival was themed "Stand up and be Counted", encouraging people to get out and vote. Last year's festival, themed "Bring 'Em Home" emphasized that the best way to support our troops is to bring them home now and drew upwards of 50,000 attendees participating in a day of music, art and social justice.
"Be Peace Now" is this year's theme, reminding us that the path to a less violent world starts from within. Each one of us must commit to what we want to see reflected in the world. Or as Michael Franti sees it, "We can't change the world over night, but we can be a drop in the river that moves a mountain".
In addition to the main stage of live music, PTTP also features morning yoga, an open-air art gallery, a healing arts tent, a DJ tent, vendors and food booths, eco village, kid's zone, bicycle coalition, and social, environmental & political organizations tabling & forums. A second stage has been added this year featuring an array of cutting edge local artists. Sunday September 10th at 1pm, Yoga Sangha of San Francisco will be hosting the Power to the Peaceful, "Be Peace Now Yoga Jam: A day of Yoga, Music and Activism", with Yoga teachers Shiva Rea, Nickie Doane and Eddie Modestini, Katchie Ananda, Acro-Yoga with Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klein, guest speakers Matthew and Terces Engelhart (Cafe Gratitude), Robi Damelin and Nadwa Sarandah and acoustic musical performances by Michael Franti, Jai Uttal others.
PTTP Festival has been graced with inspirational performances by Michael Franti and Spearhead, KRS-One, String Cheese Incident, Saul Williams, Keller Williams, Blackalicious, Alice Walker, Ram Dass, Talib Kweli, Amy Goodman, The Coup, Digital Underground, Woody Harrelson, Lyrics Born, Anti-Flag, Jello Biafra and Angela Davis and many others.
Getting to the Festival:
Carpool, BART, Bike or Walk with Your Neighbors
Power is in Community, so travel to the festival with your neighbors!
Whether you drive, walk, bike or BART, SpaceShare's travel & neighbor-match will connect you with peace-loving folks in your neighborhood. You tell us where you live, how you're traveling here, and the issues you care about. We'll connect you with neighbors who want to go to the same parties or heal the world on the same path you do.
(see artist line-up http://powertothepeaceful.org/lineup.html)
The 911 Power to the Peaceful Festival Features:
9:00am-11am
Morning Yoga with Michael Franti
The 911 Power to the Peaceful Festival will be hosting a special 2 Hour Yoga Session featuring both Maya Yoga and
Acro Yoga. We invite 1000 yogis to join us at 9am Saturday morning to begin the day.
Maya Yoga with Nicki Doane & Eddie Modestini of Yoga on Maui. Maya yoga is an open system. This system of yoga respects the individual and is accessable to all. Maya Yoga represents a vision where personal practice reveals deeper aspects of one's being; where students gain the tools to serve themselves and the opportunity to explore a singular journey into yoga. In Maya yoga, the practice is the teacher. Eddie and Nicki continue to travel to Mysore to keep the connection with the birthplace of their yoga experience. They were there most recently in winter 2006. Come early and start the day with Yoga!
Acro Yoga with Jenny Sauer-Klein & Jason Nemer of Acroyoga. AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the loving kindness of Thai massage, and the dynamic power of Acrobatics. These three ancient lineages form the foundation of a unique new practice that cultivates trust, connection and playfulness. Our highest aim is to bring individuals into a state of union with themselves, with each other, and with the divine. From this place of mutual support the true self can be realized, honored and shared for the benefit of all. Om Shanti.
11am-5pm
Healing Arts Tent
Visit the 911 Power to the Peaceful Healing Arts Tent for a serene environment offering bodywork including massage and reiki coordinate by ARENHA.
Art Gallery
Open-Air Art Gallery showcasing visual independent and emerging artists provided by START SOMA GALLERY.
Kids Zone
Family Fun Tent offering face-painting, story-telling and arts & crafts hosted by MOCHA and the BIG TADOO PUPPET CREW
DJ Tent
Dance Tent featuring the best DJ's in hip hop, reggae, house and breaks. Spinning this year will be Adnan, Garth, Maneesh the Twister, and Hey Man!. For DJ lineup and schedule, go to ARTIST LINEUP.
Social Justice Organizations
Activate yourself and visit the Social Justice & Environmental Organizations tabling on site for information, education and insight on a variety of community issues.
Vendors
Stroll thru the food and artisan vendor row for international foods and conscience product vendors.
American Sign Language
The Festival is proud to offer ASL services on the Main Stage for the entire event.
The Festival began humbly in 1999 as an international day of art and culture in support of political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. The name and date “911” were chosen to call attention to the emergency status of Mumia’s impending execution and drew roughly 6,000 people to the Mission’s Dolores Park. In 2000, PTTP expanded; showing support for all prisoners on death row, and speaking out against the exponential growth of the prison industrial complex.
When the attacks of September 11th, 2001 occurred, the festival took on a new significance, serving both as a day of remembrance for the lives lost in the tragedy as well as a day in which Northern Californians called for and end to all bombing around the globe. The 2002 and 2003 events offered a space for healing and compassion for all the people killed or displaced by terrorism and the war on terrorism. By this time, the festival had outgrown Dolores Park, and was resituated in the lush mile acre of Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park, with over 20,000 people attending. In 2004 the festival was themed "Stand up and be Counted", encouraging people to get out and vote. Last year's festival, themed "Bring 'Em Home" emphasized that the best way to support our troops is to bring them home now and drew upwards of 50,000 attendees participating in a day of music, art and social justice.
"Be Peace Now" is this year's theme, reminding us that the path to a less violent world starts from within. Each one of us must commit to what we want to see reflected in the world. Or as Michael Franti sees it, "We can't change the world over night, but we can be a drop in the river that moves a mountain".
In addition to the main stage of live music, PTTP also features morning yoga, an open-air art gallery, a healing arts tent, a DJ tent, vendors and food booths, eco village, kid's zone, bicycle coalition, and social, environmental & political organizations tabling & forums. A second stage has been added this year featuring an array of cutting edge local artists. Sunday September 10th at 1pm, Yoga Sangha of San Francisco will be hosting the Power to the Peaceful, "Be Peace Now Yoga Jam: A day of Yoga, Music and Activism", with Yoga teachers Shiva Rea, Nickie Doane and Eddie Modestini, Katchie Ananda, Acro-Yoga with Jason Nemer and Jenny Sauer-Klein, guest speakers Matthew and Terces Engelhart (Cafe Gratitude), Robi Damelin and Nadwa Sarandah and acoustic musical performances by Michael Franti, Jai Uttal others.
PTTP Festival has been graced with inspirational performances by Michael Franti and Spearhead, KRS-One, String Cheese Incident, Saul Williams, Keller Williams, Blackalicious, Alice Walker, Ram Dass, Talib Kweli, Amy Goodman, The Coup, Digital Underground, Woody Harrelson, Lyrics Born, Anti-Flag, Jello Biafra and Angela Davis and many others.
Getting to the Festival:
Carpool, BART, Bike or Walk with Your Neighbors
Power is in Community, so travel to the festival with your neighbors!
Whether you drive, walk, bike or BART, SpaceShare's travel & neighbor-match will connect you with peace-loving folks in your neighborhood. You tell us where you live, how you're traveling here, and the issues you care about. We'll connect you with neighbors who want to go to the same parties or heal the world on the same path you do.
(see artist line-up http://powertothepeaceful.org/lineup.html)
The 911 Power to the Peaceful Festival Features:
9:00am-11am
Morning Yoga with Michael Franti
The 911 Power to the Peaceful Festival will be hosting a special 2 Hour Yoga Session featuring both Maya Yoga and
Acro Yoga. We invite 1000 yogis to join us at 9am Saturday morning to begin the day.
Maya Yoga with Nicki Doane & Eddie Modestini of Yoga on Maui. Maya yoga is an open system. This system of yoga respects the individual and is accessable to all. Maya Yoga represents a vision where personal practice reveals deeper aspects of one's being; where students gain the tools to serve themselves and the opportunity to explore a singular journey into yoga. In Maya yoga, the practice is the teacher. Eddie and Nicki continue to travel to Mysore to keep the connection with the birthplace of their yoga experience. They were there most recently in winter 2006. Come early and start the day with Yoga!
Acro Yoga with Jenny Sauer-Klein & Jason Nemer of Acroyoga. AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the loving kindness of Thai massage, and the dynamic power of Acrobatics. These three ancient lineages form the foundation of a unique new practice that cultivates trust, connection and playfulness. Our highest aim is to bring individuals into a state of union with themselves, with each other, and with the divine. From this place of mutual support the true self can be realized, honored and shared for the benefit of all. Om Shanti.
11am-5pm
Healing Arts Tent
Visit the 911 Power to the Peaceful Healing Arts Tent for a serene environment offering bodywork including massage and reiki coordinate by ARENHA.
Art Gallery
Open-Air Art Gallery showcasing visual independent and emerging artists provided by START SOMA GALLERY.
Kids Zone
Family Fun Tent offering face-painting, story-telling and arts & crafts hosted by MOCHA and the BIG TADOO PUPPET CREW
DJ Tent
Dance Tent featuring the best DJ's in hip hop, reggae, house and breaks. Spinning this year will be Adnan, Garth, Maneesh the Twister, and Hey Man!. For DJ lineup and schedule, go to ARTIST LINEUP.
Social Justice Organizations
Activate yourself and visit the Social Justice & Environmental Organizations tabling on site for information, education and insight on a variety of community issues.
Vendors
Stroll thru the food and artisan vendor row for international foods and conscience product vendors.
American Sign Language
The Festival is proud to offer ASL services on the Main Stage for the entire event.
For more information:
http://powertothepeaceful.org/info.html
Add Your Comments
Comments
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Great.
Here we are more than 3 years into the Iraq war. The USA is using radiological weapons in Iraq - weapons which leave radioactive dust behind which will continue to be radioactive for more than a billion years. These materials are already causing cancers and child death.
The USA's proxy in the middle east, Israel, is using white phosphorus chemical weapons against children.
Meanwhile right here at home African-americans are being subjected to genocidal social engineering and environmental racism which kills.
And all Michael Franti (and others like him) can do is have a free summer concert? No doubt there will be that touching moment (AGAIN) when Michael takes the stage with just his guitar and starts to slowly, sadly strum, followed by his melancholy announcement "When I was in Iraq..."
Let's face it, you Bay Aryans love going to "conscious" events to shake your ass. It makes you feel good that you "did something." Hey, maybe there'll even be a shot of you (smiling, of course) on the late TV news so everyone can see how you "did something."
Meanwhile, children in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Palestine are being raped and murdered endlessly. You pay for it. You vote for the leaders that enable it (democrat, republican, green, or otherwise). And then you think that dancing in the park is gonna fix it?
Disgusting. If you were humans with hearts you would have been making revolution for at least 3 years now. But you're just rich, self-satisfied scum who live off the blood of Iraqi children no different from the bush and cheney you abhore.
Direct action gets the goods, you pieces of shit.
I posted a comment here that was highly critical of PTTP from a direct action, left anarchist perspective. It was removed.
Im guessing you just needed to hit refresh in your browser to see your comment since Im guessing it is the one displayed above...
Im guessing you just needed to hit refresh in your browser to see your comment since Im guessing it is the one displayed above...
Indybay loves censorship, stick around a while and see for yourself.
And fuck your revolution. I’ll enjoy the sun.
And fuck your revolution. I’ll enjoy the sun.
“I posted a comment here that was highly critical of PTTP from a direct action, left anarchist perspective.”
Oooohhh, a “left anarchist perspective”? Did you learn that big word at a university kid?
You know that you don’t need all the people going to this event to start your revolution. If you really believe in it you should be out there fighting the police in the streets. But it is easier to mock folks who want to enjoy life aint it? What an idiot.
Oooohhh, a “left anarchist perspective”? Did you learn that big word at a university kid?
You know that you don’t need all the people going to this event to start your revolution. If you really believe in it you should be out there fighting the police in the streets. But it is easier to mock folks who want to enjoy life aint it? What an idiot.
Accounts of the “White Power to the Peaceful” in San Francisco, CalifAztlan
Some people say 60,000 people came to the Golden Gate Park event on September 9, 2006 to protest the war in Iraq. This event began during the war in Iraq supposedly spearheaded by the African singer Michael Franti, who is loved and put on a pedestal by the “white left” because he says nothing about the African liberation question.
From the experience of the Barrio Defense Committee with the white left, this is a U.S. imperialist political force that has stifled and halted the ongoing organizing efforts of colonized people within the U.S. borders keeping us from obtaining our freedom and liberation. This event was no different.
The Barrio Defense Committee went to the event for the purpose of raising funds for the organizing center, Centro Aztlan Chicomoztoc, based in San Jose, CalifAztlan and to win people to the struggle against concentration camps that the U.S. calls prisons. But we met with vicious hostility as we entered into the park. We came with the idea that it was a people in struggle against oppression event, but the mostly hippy-type, African dreadlock white people that were leading this event attacked us one after the other as we looked for a space to set our table with 3 cases of corn on the cob, 3 cases of water, literature and petitions. The dreadlock white women organizers were telling us we could not have a space because we did not call ahead of time. Then we had these white men (all in dreadlocks and wearing tie dye clothing) talking about “healing powers” while they were attacking Raza children, young and older women from the Barrio Defense Committee.
The Barrio Defense Committee had to stay firm on our political position and struggle and matter of principal that if this was a people’s event they had to make room for us whether we called or not based on the fact that we are standing in our own ancestral land as indigenous people to this U.S. occupied territory (of which we just about were the only ones there). They cringed on this position, then they went at it (like the state does) to charge us for the space and we told them once we made the resources we would pay them. They had no choice but to look for a space after 2 attempts to set up ourselves.
Yes, the park was completely full; full of people, mostly white, that were arrogant and complacent to the struggles of colonized people as we approached them with flyers on the struggle against these concentration camps that are torturing Africanos and Raza. Their line of speakers were gringos talking about war in Iraq and “revolution” when the war is on this land they are standing on with ongoing killings against black and brown people in the barrios by police armies. Yet the park was infested by weed and who knows what else while the San Francisco police officers (famous for shooting down people in the Mission and Hunters Point) were looking board. It was so infested with weed that it triggered the allergies with the people selling the corn. This was no event against the war or any war for that matter but a circus of clowns who are fooling themselves and alienating themselves from the world around them like a bubble separating themselves from the world around them that is burning for freedom and to reclaim our resources so that we can live in peace.
This is another type of counterinsurgency the state promotes to confuse, alienate and maintain people complacent from the reality of the world struggle against U.S. imperialism. Our role as people who fight for freedom and self-determination is to wage a struggle and in the belly of the beast as Che so eloquently stated it. Tierra y Libertad!
Some people say 60,000 people came to the Golden Gate Park event on September 9, 2006 to protest the war in Iraq. This event began during the war in Iraq supposedly spearheaded by the African singer Michael Franti, who is loved and put on a pedestal by the “white left” because he says nothing about the African liberation question.
From the experience of the Barrio Defense Committee with the white left, this is a U.S. imperialist political force that has stifled and halted the ongoing organizing efforts of colonized people within the U.S. borders keeping us from obtaining our freedom and liberation. This event was no different.
The Barrio Defense Committee went to the event for the purpose of raising funds for the organizing center, Centro Aztlan Chicomoztoc, based in San Jose, CalifAztlan and to win people to the struggle against concentration camps that the U.S. calls prisons. But we met with vicious hostility as we entered into the park. We came with the idea that it was a people in struggle against oppression event, but the mostly hippy-type, African dreadlock white people that were leading this event attacked us one after the other as we looked for a space to set our table with 3 cases of corn on the cob, 3 cases of water, literature and petitions. The dreadlock white women organizers were telling us we could not have a space because we did not call ahead of time. Then we had these white men (all in dreadlocks and wearing tie dye clothing) talking about “healing powers” while they were attacking Raza children, young and older women from the Barrio Defense Committee.
The Barrio Defense Committee had to stay firm on our political position and struggle and matter of principal that if this was a people’s event they had to make room for us whether we called or not based on the fact that we are standing in our own ancestral land as indigenous people to this U.S. occupied territory (of which we just about were the only ones there). They cringed on this position, then they went at it (like the state does) to charge us for the space and we told them once we made the resources we would pay them. They had no choice but to look for a space after 2 attempts to set up ourselves.
Yes, the park was completely full; full of people, mostly white, that were arrogant and complacent to the struggles of colonized people as we approached them with flyers on the struggle against these concentration camps that are torturing Africanos and Raza. Their line of speakers were gringos talking about war in Iraq and “revolution” when the war is on this land they are standing on with ongoing killings against black and brown people in the barrios by police armies. Yet the park was infested by weed and who knows what else while the San Francisco police officers (famous for shooting down people in the Mission and Hunters Point) were looking board. It was so infested with weed that it triggered the allergies with the people selling the corn. This was no event against the war or any war for that matter but a circus of clowns who are fooling themselves and alienating themselves from the world around them like a bubble separating themselves from the world around them that is burning for freedom and to reclaim our resources so that we can live in peace.
This is another type of counterinsurgency the state promotes to confuse, alienate and maintain people complacent from the reality of the world struggle against U.S. imperialism. Our role as people who fight for freedom and self-determination is to wage a struggle and in the belly of the beast as Che so eloquently stated it. Tierra y Libertad!
For more information:
http://www.apscuhuru.org
it says, "Direct action gets the goods, you pieces of shit."
I think there's another way to argue the political point, without insulting people on a non-political basis.
I think there's another way to argue the political point, without insulting people on a non-political basis.
Wendy, please pass on to your friends from whom the above message came:
I don't think you should feel put-off because you didn't pre-register to have a table. that's how it is at most events, except for answer's big anti-war protests.
i'm sorry to hear that some of your folks said they were allergic to the "weed infestation." I'm allergic to cut grass, too. Horrible, non-native, invasive plant.
I hope you weren't talking about marijuana- it's legal for medicinal use here. I am allergic to things that are burned, too- i have a hard time being around incense, burning sage, etc., but i tend to not complain when your native sisters and brothers (or africans, for that matter) are using sage to bless a space. But you likely knew from your past experiences at this event that it is a hippie fest (there are photos of you guys from last year's event on this website), and I have never heard you complain about it before.
I saw that uhuru's stand was doing quite well. in fact, i bought food there, and i'm not even a white black nationalist (though i am caucasian).
I heard Franti talking about the war when he was on stage. Yeah, he's all about the "I" did this, and the "I thought that" (and i think he thinks he is a prophet), but he did talk about his feelings about the war, and i think that there is something to be said for being at an event where 60,000 people are all coming together as a community to support musicians who speak out against the war. Back when franti was a hip hop artist, he did perform songs about mumia, police brutality in the hood, etc. It's not franti's fault that he clearly comes from a middle class background (not in a 'hood, i bet!), but he does get these issues out there. last year's theme was "bring them home," and it had a person (or more) of color depicted on its banner. so you can't say that he is not bringing out people of color's issues.
i think that if you suddenly have a problem with the event, its contents, or the people who attend it, you should probably avoid this event in the future. organize your own event and we'll see if 60,000 people are interested enough to attend.
I don't think you should feel put-off because you didn't pre-register to have a table. that's how it is at most events, except for answer's big anti-war protests.
i'm sorry to hear that some of your folks said they were allergic to the "weed infestation." I'm allergic to cut grass, too. Horrible, non-native, invasive plant.
I hope you weren't talking about marijuana- it's legal for medicinal use here. I am allergic to things that are burned, too- i have a hard time being around incense, burning sage, etc., but i tend to not complain when your native sisters and brothers (or africans, for that matter) are using sage to bless a space. But you likely knew from your past experiences at this event that it is a hippie fest (there are photos of you guys from last year's event on this website), and I have never heard you complain about it before.
I saw that uhuru's stand was doing quite well. in fact, i bought food there, and i'm not even a white black nationalist (though i am caucasian).
I heard Franti talking about the war when he was on stage. Yeah, he's all about the "I" did this, and the "I thought that" (and i think he thinks he is a prophet), but he did talk about his feelings about the war, and i think that there is something to be said for being at an event where 60,000 people are all coming together as a community to support musicians who speak out against the war. Back when franti was a hip hop artist, he did perform songs about mumia, police brutality in the hood, etc. It's not franti's fault that he clearly comes from a middle class background (not in a 'hood, i bet!), but he does get these issues out there. last year's theme was "bring them home," and it had a person (or more) of color depicted on its banner. so you can't say that he is not bringing out people of color's issues.
i think that if you suddenly have a problem with the event, its contents, or the people who attend it, you should probably avoid this event in the future. organize your own event and we'll see if 60,000 people are interested enough to attend.
Boo hoo hoo, if you don’t like the event or its objectives, then don’t go.
“we are standing in our own ancestral land as indigenous people to this U.S. occupied territory…”
Jesus, get over yourself. Ancestral land does not mean you own it, and I am sorry that you don’t want to deal with different types of people living on it. Plenty of us are proud to be Mexican-American, but also proud to live in this country and don’t buy into your pointless radicalism.
So stop trying to speak for all of us.
“we are standing in our own ancestral land as indigenous people to this U.S. occupied territory…”
Jesus, get over yourself. Ancestral land does not mean you own it, and I am sorry that you don’t want to deal with different types of people living on it. Plenty of us are proud to be Mexican-American, but also proud to live in this country and don’t buy into your pointless radicalism.
So stop trying to speak for all of us.
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