No Police State Girl's blog is about everything No Police State and other random thoughts; music, art, fashion, lifestyle, technology, politics, the environment, saving the world and whatever else comes to mind.
And if I must blogger say, it was 23 degrees on this night in the middle of December during that holiday season that I found myself on one of those twice monthly Freegan trash tours, also known as dumpster diving, in that city of New York last night, that usually take place after their meetings, this one being at the Sony Public Atrium on 55th Street and Madisoin Avenue. And after thatfreegan meeting, this trash tour group of about ten or fifteen people made its way ten or fifteen blocks toward what seemed like about 70th street, stopping at what seemed like 10 different spots of various supermarkets, coffee shops, deli’s and any other kind of food stores along the way. And it was said that this was a slow night, as usually food is found at every spot, or every other spot, more than one can carry, and on this night food was only found at two or three of these ten spots, with most of the food being found at the last spot of what seemed like a gourmet natural health food store at the end of the night as in those photos that find themselves posted above. And there is also to be a freegan feast a day later after this dumpster dive of that freegan food that was found, to be shared at someones home with everyone. And from what I know, these trash tours usually take place during the hours of 9pm and 11pm, during that two hour window of when the food is put out on the sidewalk or dumpster and thrown away to when the food is picked up by the garbage trucks to throw it away. And so what exactly is freeganism and dumpster diving? Well, it has something to do with capitalism, consumerism and saving the world. And according that freegan.info website, What is a Freegan?: Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed. After years of trying to boycott products from unethical corporations responsible for human rights violations, environmental destruction, and animal abuse, many of us found that no matter what we bought we ended up supporting something deplorable. We came to realize that the problem isn’t just a few bad corporations but the entire system itself. Freeganism is a total boycott of an economic system where the profit motive has eclipsed ethical considerations and where massively complex systems of productions ensure that all the products we buy will have detrimental impacts most of which we may never even consider. Thus, instead of avoiding the purchase of products from one bad company only to support another, we avoid buying anything to the greatest degree we are able. The word freegan is compounded from “free” and “vegan”. Vegans are people who avoid products from animal sources or products tested on animals in an effort to avoid harming animals. Freegans take this a step further by recognizing that in a complex, industrial, mass-production economy driven by profit, abuses of humans, animals, and the earth abound at all levels of production (from acquisition to raw materials to production to transportation) and in just about every product we buy. Sweatshop labor, rainforest destruction, global warming, displacement of indigenous communities, air and water pollution, eradication of wildlife on farmland as “pests”, the violent overthrow of popularly elected governments to maintain puppet dictators compliant to big business interests, open-pit strip mining, oil drilling in environmentally sensitive areas, union busting, child slavery, and payoffs to repressive regimes are just some of the many impacts of the seemingly innocuous consumer products we consume every day.
Is another world possible. Peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind.
And it’s that time of year yet again where another one of those holidays rolls around to where I can just recycle this blog post and post about that same holiday all over again. And in all honesty, I find myself blaghing on this day because it is Halloween on this day again, and I found myself taking a bunch of photos at that Theater for the New City Village Halloween Costume Ball yet again in that city of New York. And then there’s that annual Village Halloween Parade to be found in New York City on this day also. And that day of the dead, when the dead come to life, or something like that, started out with that guy all lit up in lights for this Halloween night atPort Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, as in those photos that find themselves posted above, and it continued with people all dressed up, and lit up in Christmas lights and all kind of lights on this night. And the costumes are always amazing to see on this day. If only every day were Halloween, then we would be free to be who we want to be, I think. Happy All Saints Day.
And in the midst of reading the headline news of the day, on this day finds itself as Occupy Wall Street day one thousand and something, I think. And Occupy Wall Street and that all things police brutality and beyond Black Lives Matter movements are still moving fast. And as I had typed in that previous blog post before and had said in that BronxNet OPEN University July 26 2016 video that finds itself posted above, that I am looking forward to that Black Lives Matter Art Show at chashama, and so I thought to post that that Black Lives Matter Art Show is now at Chashama, until September 4th. And if you need space to create, chashama has it, as chashama nurtures artists by transforming unused property into work and presentation space. They give you what you need. SPACE! chashama presents artists’ works in many different venues, and thanks to the The Durst Organization, artists are able to present their work in the lobbies of many buildings in NYC. Another way in which we can keep alive the cultural richness of our city! And so one of those chashama’s locations has currently been transformed into a Black Lives Matter Art Show. And thank you chasnama or letting me get that artwork out the closet once again to present another one of those Black Lives Matter Art Shows whenever possible. And so that Black Lives Matter Art Show reception happened last week already from 6-8pm according to that Black Lives Matter Art Show Facebook event invite, or noon according to Time Out New York. And the Black Lives Matter Art Show Facebook event invite reads something like as follows:
Black Lives Matter | Carla Cubit of Occupy Art
Opening Reception & Performances: Friday, August 5, 6-8pm
A performance by both Carla Cubit of Occupy Art and a speaker from The Stop Mass Incarceration Network, followed by an Artist Talk & Discussion.
August 5 – September 4, 2016
On view 24/7, through storefront window.
Open Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 12-6 pm
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the Black Lives Matter Art Show features Carla Cubit’s Black Lives Matter artwork and posters, accompanied by her photographs from Black Lives Matter protests throughout the NYC area.
“Expand scope, perspective, and inspiration towards an ongoing series of future culture jams and events around this theme and time.” During Open Hours (see above), all are encouraged to come talk about the Black Lives Matter movement and are invited to create their own posters/Black Lives Matter inspired artwork (art materials and supplies provided).
Handmade Black Lives Matter necklaces, magnets, and key chains will be on sale for $1 during the Opening Reception and all Open Hours.
About the Artist
Carla Cubit’s creates small mixed media assemblage pieces using found objects and materials–often discarded hardware and recycled objects. She weaves tales from castoffs found in the streets. Her works are “highly visionary in nature.” A former resident of the East Village in New York City, Cubit’s artwork has shown in galleries and other venues in NYC. Recently her works have been inspired by the Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter movements. Cubit finds that there is no separation between her daily life and her creative outpouring: “I love the arts in whatever medium it may be; music, theater, dance etc; and I believe in religion, mysticism and the secret meaning of the unknown and art as a universal means of communication.”
About Occupy Art
“We are the 99%.” Visit Occupy Art, to learn more about past Occupy Art and Black Lives Matter Art Shows. http://occupyart.org/
About The Stop Mass Incarceration Network
“Rise up to Stop Mass Incarceration & Police Terror. We are initiating an effort to accelerate the movement to stop the injustice of mass incarceration and police brutality; the racially biased policies and practices of the police, the courts and the U.S. legal system; and to support the human rights of prisoners and of the formerly incarcerated. We call on all to join us.” Learn more and get involved, at Stop Mass Incarceration Network. And thank you Travis Morales and Stop Mass Incarceration Network for speaking at and bringing literature to this event. And there were or are, DecorForU #blacklivesmatter, #occupywallstreet, #berniesanders and more necklaces, magnets and key chains being vended for $1 each as part of this reception and event also. And there were also thoughts, thoughts and more thoughts, almost too many to mention and type on this blog post that were written and shared on those “Your Thoughts On Black Lives Matter Banners” as in some of those photos and videos that find themselves posted above. And some of those thoughts written were:
1. My Life Matters
2. Listen, do you want to know a secret? All Lives Matter. Stop the hate.
3. (in response to #2), yet this totally disarms #blacklivesmatter and continues the hate. Ironic.
4. Let’s be clear. Black llives have always mattered. What the Black Lives Matter is saying is that black lives in the judicial system are not being recognized as life lost. Legally we stopped being property less than 200 years ago. So since we are free black & magical – are we less protected by law because we are no longer property. Black Lives Matter is all you ever need to know. #______ my life matters.
5. If we don’t get justice they wont get no peace.
6. Love your blackness.
7. I love black people
8. We are one. No one is different. All the same. Same love.
9. Fight the good fight.
10. Keep fighting. Keep loving. Freedom is the soul of equality. Do not rest until we are all equal.
11. The people united will never be defeated.
12. You are my brother. You are my sister.
13. Jesus Loves Black Lives.
14. Focus on the progress. Not hate. Otherwise they win.
15. It’s so sad that even in 2016 we are still living in a white supremacist capitalist colonial patriarchy where people of color are routinely silenced and murdered.
16. A white male police officer told Karyn Gains “I can’t believe you’re raising your kids this way”, meaning raising them to defend themselves and resist police violence. 5 months later, she was murdered in her home and her son was shot by police. When will we stop blaming people of color for their own victimization under white supremacy.
17. We are a billion cells of pure knowing.
18. Black Lives Matter
19. All Lives Matter (in response to #18).
20. Together we can
21. Jesus
22. No God. No Peace. Know God. Know Peace.
23. There’s history, power & strength of my skin color. Always love your black in all ways.
24. Step the fuck up white people.
25. My life does matter and my skin is beautiful and important.
26. My skin color is beautiful.
27. Black is beautiful.
28. Silence is not an option, but listening is just as important.
29. Race is a social constraint that we reaffirm everyday. It is in out power to change the status quo. Love is love is love.
30. The color of my skin does ot make me inferior. It makes me beautiful.
31. We all feel and feelings have no color.
32. The skin i’m in is beautiful, bold, black.
33. All people of color should be treated fairly.
34. Color is just a refraction of lights, length received by our eyes, what should count is what’s in our souls.
35. Black Love Matter
36. Every place where you set your foot will be yours. – Deut 11:24
37. A 5 year old child understands this you would think all adults would.
38. If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
39. The character of a man is now where he stands in times of peace, but where he stands in times of strife & turmoil. Where do you stand?
40. Under skin we all bleed red.
41. Jesus is love. Dwell on this notion!
42. Skittles + hoodie = armed + dangerous. R.I.P Trevon
43. Inequality is a historical & social product of society, classified by color. It is out moral obligation to keep fighting until we truly reach equality & justice. A revolution has to happen now. Keep fighting.
44. We are people. We have families. We exist.
45. Let’s keep the fight against injustice.
46. our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. MLK Jr.
47. Be kind to yourself, and others! racism.
48. Just like black is the combination of all colors of the spectrum. So are black lives. So when we say black lives matter we are saying black trans, black gay, black women, black children, black men, my black is all of that.
49. “March through the streets”. I’m willing and I’m able. Categorize me and I defy every label. #blackgirlmagic, #carefreeblackgirl, #blacklivesmatter
50. Fight the power! Transform the people for revolution.
51. #Hands Up Don’t Shoot!
52. Let us remember that Dr. King was hated by the government. Be flexible.
53. ONE LOVE
54. Change!
55. Justice
56. It’s not about the color, its the character.
57. 1 world, 1 race, 1 life, 1 death, 1 eternity.
58. 500 years later and we’re still trying to make this point?! We need to come together and heal now. Educate about the true history. Share stories. Work for change.
And as seen in some of those photos from some of those Black Lives Matter protests in the New York City area to found on that Black Lives Matter Art Show wall, Millions March NYC is having a Shut Down City Hall NYC protest at City Hall in New York City if you happen to be in the area, today being Sunday, Day 14 of their Abolition Square, City Hall Park event. And part of their Shut Down City Hall Facebook event invite reads as follows:
Approaching the 2-year mark of the Ferguson Uprising on August 9, Millions March NYC is calling for the OCCUPATION OF CITY HALL PARK starting Monday, August 1, 2016 at 9 AM. It is time we escalate our organizational tactics against this racist system, which continues to execute Black & Brown people with impunity—most recently #DelrawnSmallhere in East New York, Brooklyn. Please come by my Black Lives Matter Art Show at Chashama if you happen to be in the neighborhood, August 5th – September 4th, 2016, NYC. #blacklivesmatter, Occupy Art, Occupy Wall Street Worldwide.
(There will be info tables, band merch, and the latest issues of the SHADOW and Time Warp on sale, as well…)
We’ll have a real coooool time ☆
And No Police State Girl is planning on singing that No Police State song at this all things No Police State and more event also. And it seems that more performers and speakers will be added to that show as that May Day day nears. Squat The World. Housing is a Human Right. And what if anything, does this have to do with a No Police State. Have a great Bernie Sanders, May Day PUNK Show at Tompkins Square concert day and more. Hope to see you there.
