Playing a Protest

[jchrisk1]

Anyone ever play at a protest? If so, how did it turn out?

My band is playing a protest party this Friday, that ourselves and some other folks have organised. My guitarist (attorney) and some of the people from their law office are putting this together. Our local beach ( not the tourist side of the bay) has been barricaded to prevent people from driving down to the beach. The property the beach is on is privately owned with two easements deeded for public use. The town took it upon themselves to have closed door meetings, and make decisions for the people without their knowledge. My guitarist's law firm has always been heavy handed in dealing with the out of control local government. The biggest advocator for the beach closure is the sole person that lives at this beach. Of course, who wouldn't want their own private beach? So we are throwing the party about 100' from his house, where they put the barricade. We've already had him call the police on us two times. There was nothing they could do, so they left.

So, I'm just curious, has anyone ever been a part of something like this? And, what was the outcome?

 

[the harp unstrung]

Gotta get up off the couch!!

When I was a kid, I was part of the rotating house band aboard the Sloop Clearwater.
One of my proudest accomplishments, and happiest summers.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Which, for folks who may not know, was Pete Seeger's efforts to stop various industries along the Hudson River from dumping pollutants and sewage into it.

 

[the harp unstrung]

...proud to be a Native New Yorker!

 

[jchrisk1]

We're going to do what we can, for as long as we can. So far, it looks like about 200 people will be there. If half of those show up it will be a success for us. We've got a local news station coming as well. I've just had shirts printed for the event also. Our local dredging company has volunteered to park a front end loader down there to show that if they don't remove their obstruction, we can do it ourselves. The council meeting is Thursday, where we will give them the option to remove it themselves.
I'm not happy that we have to resort to this, but if we don't do anything, they will have their way with anything else that follows. So, in the words of Twisted Sister, We're Not Gonna Take It!!!

 

[Ben B]

I've attended a couple of protests, but I won't state the subjects due to the TB rule against politics. I didn't perform at these protests. Sounds like a cool idea as long as the performance doesn't take away from the purpose of the protest. I strongly support exercising your first amendment rights regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum.

The only word of caution I would have for anyone performing at a protest is these days it seems like protests can turn from peaceful to "hey, let's trash the Starbucks" very quickly. Don't bring any equipment that is expensive or you have an emotional attachment to.

 

[jchrisk1]

Our performing there is our attempt to give our community music on solstice weekend, which this same town used to put on a solstice event every year. They quit doing it a few years ago and my guitarist took it on the next year, as a non-profit, and gave all proceeds back to the town. Then they raised the rent on the property where it was held to almost three times the normal rate, making it impossible to hold the event without losing money. So, therefore it has been discontinued.
As far as this protest turning ugly, I don't see it as an issue. These are the same people that love this beach. The same people that attend the beach clean ups three times a year. We all love this place and truly care about it's preservation. The original owners did too. And they gave the public access to it in 1907.

 

[jchrisk1]

By the way, this will be our third protest down there this month. And at least the fifth time they've tried to close off this public easement. The guy that printed my shirts said he tore one down in the late nineties.

 

[Christine]

Good for you, if everyone stood by and did nothing the world would be a much worse place, I hope it makes people open their eyes if nothing else

 

[jchrisk1]

Good for you, if everyone stood by and did nothing the world would be a much worse place, I hope it makes people open their eyes if nothing else

Exactly. We're just creating some awareness. These people shouldn't be allowed to do these things. They have no authority to do so. They say they've made new ordinances concerning the area. They have yet to prove they are real. So, we put it to a test. Last week we called the cops on ourselves and broke one of their supposed ordinances. The cops wouldn't write a citation. Which tells us they are blowing hot air. As usual.

 

[two fingers]

I live near the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

I won't delve into politics (even local politics) but fighting to be able to drive on the beach will be an up-hill battle.....private beach or no. If you file suit over it environmentalists will counter sue and will always win. Always.

When I was a kid, most of the year anyone could drive onto most of the beaches (and on the dunes) whenever they felt like it in North Carolina. These days, there are a handful of small stretches of beach on the Crystal Coast and Outer Banks where one can drive certain times of the day certain times of the year. To get the permit, one must pay $55 and sit through a four-hour class and watch videos on how to avoid making a hole in the ozone layer my driving a Jeep on the beach.

From what I gather, every time a 4X4 touches a beach a baby humminbird loses its wings....or some rare dung lizard's mother spontaneously combusts .... or a responsibly-sourced kitten loses its organic free-range repurposed ears ..... or something equally ridiculous. I can't keep up with all the ways I have destroyed the planet.

 

[JimK]

I was once roped into playing 'an event' (mid-'90s)...because we were so outside the norm, we rarely gigged.

Anyway, one of the organizers preps us-
In case of gunfire...head here, etc. WTH?

This gig was near Halloween...at the end, both sides started throwing pumpkins at each other.
The cops show up. Not the worst gig I have ever had.

 

[jchrisk1]

I agree @twofingers . Driving on the beach and critical dune area is illegal on this beach. That's a federal law. Any 99% agree, and follow the rules. But, there's that 1%...
There are roadways along the property that can be driven on. Except for one. It is walking only because it crosses the dunes. That is the only public access to the beach unless you drive a mile down to where it meets the water.
Here's a pic of the beach. The plats on the water side are the critical dune area.

 

[jchrisk1]

 

[soulman969]

Wishing you luck.

I played at some protests long ago to stop an immoral war in SE Asia. Was it effective? Maybe, the war ended.

 

[micguy]

I'd bring my least valuable gear if I were you. Probably won't have issues, but just in case there is trouble and/or gear seizure by the police, you may not want to rick your best gear.

 

[dxb]

I'm a little confused, is public access to the beach being closed off completely, or are they just saying people can't drive their cars on the beach?

 

[Jeff Scott]

...Our local beach ( not the tourist side of the bay) has been barricaded to prevent people from driving down to the beach...

I'm a little confused, is public access to the beach being closed off completely, or are they just saying people can't drive their cars on the beach?

If I read this correctly, it's just about getting to the beach, not driving on it.

 

[jchrisk1]

I'm a little confused, is public access to the beach being closed off completely, or are they just saying people can't drive their cars on the beach?

Join the club. We're all a little confused. They say no motorized vehicles on the public access. They say we can walk it, but their website says the only access is at the parking lot, just north of the property line, and extends south to the private property line. Which is BS, because no one owns the beach. The law states beaches are public up to three feet beyond the high water mark. Which, last year, was 66' from the water.
They are just making things up and hoping everyone believes them. Again, they have zero authority to do anything on this property. And, the property owners have no authority either, because of the deed. In the deed, it was written that the easements are granted for public use. Since there was no definition of what public use is, they have no authority to change it. Unless it's abandoned. Which is what they are trying to do. Then the public access is reversed and the property owners now have control.

 

[jchrisk1]

I have never seen a town try so hard to destroy itself. This area is a tourist area. They are pushing away all business in the area. People vacation here and spend lots of money. Our community depends on it really. But they're doing nothing to attract business. Quite the opposite, actually.