art, black lives matter, Uncategorized

Your Thoughts On Black Lives Matter

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And even in the midst of when that Google page rank update still wants to send me in search of a fifth full time job for when that get rich internet quick does not get rich internet quick, and it seems as if the world around me could be going to hell in a hand basket,  I still find myself blaghing on this blagh and my other blog in an attempt to maintain web 2.0 social media user generated content whenever blaghers block possible.
And 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 movements Black Lives Matter are still moving fast.  And so that Black Lives Matter Art Show at Chashama has come to pass that I blogged about a few weeks ago on my other blog.  And so I thought to post some of those “Your Thoughts On Black Lives Matter” comments that were written on those banners to be found at that Chashama space, for when the prevailing thought seems to be All Lives Matter, followed by the color of ones skin with a few quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King thrown in as follows:

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 Trayvon
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.
59.  All lives can’t matter until black lives matter.
60.  Petty crimes = death penalty.
61.  Stop racist police.
62.  “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere”. – MLK Jr. #blacklivesmatter
63.  #Latinx4blm
64.  We all belong
65.  (In response to #1) All lives can’t matter until black lives matter
66.  The voices of the oppressed matter most.  If you are white you don’t have the authority to speak over black people regarding black issues.
67.  Another white anti – racist for black lives matter
68.  #peace
69.  (In response to #1) true but right now we are talking about black lives
70.  We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. – Letter from Birmingham.  MLK JR.
71.  Today it might be me, tomorrow it might be you! Think about it.
73.  CHANGE!
74.  The struggle continues
75.  Once upon a time there was my grandfather.  Today he is alive in my heart.  An african descent slave
76.  Look at me, not my skin color
77.  F*ck cops
78.  Love always
79.  In a country run by bigotry + racism the black lives matter movement has succeeded in bringing the people of color together to educate those who wish to be enlightened and to promote the love between all people of color we must all love one another.
80.  Read your history.  3/5 of a human being.  U.S. Constitution!
81.  It’s the content of your character, not the color of your skin.  God bless my brothers & sisters of color.  I stand with you.
82.  Out of many we are one.
83.  You are my brother you are my sister.  God intended us to treat each other as such.
84.  There’s no color between people.  We all human
85.  I can’t breathe.  BLACK LIVES MATTER

And I am not sure if there are any other words to say about this art show except to say thank you Chashama for giving me that opportunity to take the artwork out the closet to say #blacklivesmatter, Black Lives Matter.  And what, if anything, does this have to do with a No Police State.  Occupy Art.  Occupy Wall Street Worldwide. 

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Uncategorized

A May Day Rain Show

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Hey again bloggers or whoever could be reading this blagh. And so this post happens to be about vending a DecorForU rain sale of ‪#‎blacklivesmatter‬, ‪#‎occupywallstreet‬, ‪#‎berniesanders‬ ‪#‎nopolicestate‬ and ‪#‎theshadow‬ necklaces, magnets and key chains @ Mayday Space @ MAY DAY CELEBRATION: block party, classes, film & community dinner for when singing that no police state song @ May Day PUNK Show at Tompkins Square gets rained out, cancelled or postponed. And as I had blaghed in that previous blog post about a May Day PUNK Show at Tompkins Square, there was supposed to be a May Day show at Tompkins Square Park in that city of New York yesterday. Well it got rained out and rescheduled for next weekend and I found myself vending those all things Bernie Sanders and more necklaces at May Day Space MAY DAY CELEBRATION: block party, classes, film & community dinner instead, as in those photos that find themselves posted above. And if I must blagher say, Mayday Space is this really cool space in Bushwick Brooklyn that has all things save the world events and more. And how those other May Day outdoor events in the New York City area faired in this May Day rain weather I am not sure, but in case you happen to be interested, this MAY DAY NYC 2016 WEEKEND ROUND-UP list may tell you below:

April 30: EDUCATE

—- 11:30am-6:30pm: LIBERATION LAB! 5th annual May Day Free University w. Rename&Reclaim / 5to Primero de Mayo de la Universidad Libre con Renombrar y Reclamar (Washington Square Park, Manhattan)
—- 2-6pm: Día Internacional de las Trabajadoras – International Workers Day (Brook Park, South Bronx)
—- 7pm: Anthology: Crown Heights (Weeksville Heritage Center, 158 Buffalo Ave, Brooklyn. Also performing on May 1 @2pm)
—- 7pm-2am: SATURDAY: May Day Eve – Verso Party (20 Jay Street, Suite 1010, Brooklyn)
May 1: CELEBRATE
—- 12pm: 2016 May Day at Union Square (Union Square, Manhattan) –> 2:45pm march to Washington Square to join 3pm 5th Annual Immigrant Worker Justice Tour! (Washington Square Park, Manhattan)
—- 12-6pm: Vendy Plaza at La Marqueta – Opening Day (1590 Park Ave, Manhattan)
—- 12:30pm: Support Striking Verizon Wireless Workers on May Day(8524 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn)
—- 1pm: May Day PUNK Show at Tompkins Square (Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan)
—- 2-4pm: Solidarity Economy Walking Tour (Brooklyn Commons @388 Atlantic Ave)
—- 2-8:30pm: MAY DAY CELEBRATION: block party, classes, film & community dinner (Mayday Space @176 St. Nicholas Ave, Brooklyn)
—- 3-7pm: International Worker’s May Day Speakout in the Hood! – ¡Manifestación para El Día Internacional de los Trabajadores en el Barrio!(Kingsbridge Armory, 29 W Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx)
—- 5-8pm: Soñamos Sentirnos Libres : Under Construction Opening (Interference Archive, 131 8th St, Brooklyn)
—- 6pm: May Day Noise Demo in Solidarity With Prison Strikers and Akai Gurley (Metropolitan Correctional Center, Manhattan)
—- 8pm: Queers for Flint: A May Day After Party (Silent Barn 603 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn)
And what, if anything, does this have to do with a No Police State.  Have a great day after May Day and more.
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Uncategorized

Occupy Art Went To Figment NYC

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And if I must blogger say, FIGMENT NYC was awesome. And that ferry boat ride that one takes across the water to get to Governors Island and all of its art, art and more art, well that was even more awesome to see New York City and all of its harbor views. And those one hundred and more art projects and art installations, performances and more that found themselves on Governors Island on this Figment NYC day, well they were even more awesome. And so this Figmentevent seems as if it wants photos, photos and more photos and colors, colors and more colors to be added to this post. And so Occupy Art Show was at Figment on this day and some of those photos from this Occupy Art Show find themselves posted above. And even more photos from that Occupy Art Show and FIGMENT NYC on this day find themselves posted in my Occupy Art Show @ Figment NYC Facebook event invite. And the Occupy Wall Street People’s Puppets were there on this day also. And if I would have known that, I would have Occupy Wall Street People’s Puppets went over there to see their show also. And so Figment NYC has come to an end this past weekend. And with that, that Occupy Art Show @ Figment NYC has came to an end as well. And so Figment is off to San Diego, Boston, Toronto, Washington D.C. and even more cities as well in all its Figmentness. And on this day finds itself as Occupy Wall Street Day 997. And Occupy Wall Street is still moving fast, well sort of. Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Art Worldwide.

 

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Uncategorized

Occupy Art Was @ Left Forum

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Well that Occupy Art Panel at Left Forum at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in that city of New York that I blogged about a week or so ago happened a few days ago. And according to Left Forum, this was their best conference to date. And from what I saw during my time there, despite a panel speaker being missing in action who did not make it to that Occupy Art panel on this day, it was Paul DeRienzo of Let Them Talk who saved the day with his squatter history slide show for the few people who were in attendance. And that slide show was all things squatting and art. And if it wasn’t for Paul and his slide show, that “There will be a slide show presentation of Occupy artwork as well as Lower East Side, NYC Lower East Side Squat History zines” part of Occupy Art’s panel description would have just been false advertising and may not have happened. And so how did the rest of that Left Forum conference go on the last day of their three day conference one may ask, maybe? Well those photos above speak for themselves and a picture can tell a story, or something like that. And on this day finds itself as Occupy Wall Street Day 990. Have a great Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Art day and more.

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art events

HOWL!

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And so I just happen to have one of those 1st Annual FEVA, Federation of East Village Artists, HOWL! Festival of East Village Arts The HOWL! Souvenir Books lying around that I must have gotten from Tompkins Square Park years ago, that park that finds itself somewhat infamous for that 1988 Tompkins Square Park Riot that had squatters, the homeless and everyone in between running to and/or from the police that had something to do with a curfew in that park that finds itself in the Lower East Side now called the East Village for real estate marketing purposes maybe, in that city of New York.  And so this souvenir book is really cool with its East Village culture of life and history in that neighborhood during those times. And along with that Long Live The Lower East Side poem that finds itself in this book, here is another one of the many poems and photos that finds themselves in this book also that I thought interesting to post on this blog. Free the land. Squat the world.

1966/2003

the Lower East Side/ the East Village
ethnic neighborhood/style magnet
Ukrainians, Poles, Puerto Ricans and Blacks/ -, -, – and – 
flocks of babushkas/clouds of green ringlets
strung our junkies/tranced out tourists

burned out buildings/luxury ghetto
shoebox apt $217 a month/shoebox apt. $2175 a month
there goes the neighborhood/ there goes the planet
obvious potheads/invisible alcoholics
serious yippies/secret yuppies 
the Peace Eye Bookstore/Barnes and Noble
pierogis/ raw food
xerox magazines/online entities

“US out of Vietnam!”/”US out of Iraq!”
age of innocence/age of experience
embrace the beautiful stranger/embrace the ghostly clone
acid dreams/health club mornings
who was I then?/what am I now?
(the view from the tarry roof goes on and on)

dancers in the streets/students in the dorms
danger and mystery/crowding and noise
Filmore East and the Dom/great choice of multiplexes
Leshko’s/Leshko’s
angel-headed hipsters/angel headed hipsters
free love/free anytime minutes
many little mom and pop stores/one big NYU

BUT STILL: 
the Lower East Side/ the East Village
one and the same poets and painters and musicians/musicians and painters
and poets
free to be me/free to be you

 FREE TO BE ME BEING YOU

-Michael Brownstein’s latest book is World on fire. Open City Books 

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