Building a better world through peace was the message last Saturday, Nov. 3, at Riverside Park in Kernville at the second annual Freedom Festival put on by the Kern Valley Progressive Alliance for Change (KVPAC). Over 100 people came to show their support for ending the war in Iraq, legislation for a clean environment, healthcare for all, and many other topics.
The event began with a performance by Out of the Question, a band comprised of several local musicians that collaborated especially for the Freedom Festival. They played many folk songs relating to peace, including a powerful performance of Pink’s 'Dear Mr. President' sung by Katharine Edmonson at the request of KVPAC member and Festival organizer Holly Spohn-Gross. 'It’s time to end the fear and take this country back,' said Spohn-Gross. 'The hard working people need to stand up and make a difference!'
 Dianne Sousa, center, of the San Luis Obispo chapter of Code Pink addresses attendees at KVPAC’s 2nd annual Freedom Festival at Riverside Park in Kernville Saturday. |
The first speaker of the day at the Freedom Festival was Cameron Melville of the Alchemist Philanthropic Center for the Arts in Los Angeles. The center will soon offer free space, as well as lighting, sound, webcasts, and such for progressive artists and nonprofit organizations to hold events that raise awareness for their particular cause. 'We need to think of others and do for others,' said Melville. 'There’s a consciousness rising in this country and I suggest the right wing take notice; here we come!'
Melville then introduced the festival's emcee, Lizzy West, and her husband/musical accompanist, Baba Buffalo (Anthony Kieraldo). The musical duo - newlyweds, married just a week - announced they were kicking off their nationwide tour with their appearance at the Kernville Freedom Festival. Giving the audience some of West's back story, Melville said that Warner Brothers dropped her contract when she refused to omit her political song, '19 Miles to Baghdad,' from her first album. The song, which West performed for the Freedom Festival crowd, has been played on National Public Radio’s daily show Democracy Now, and has gained in popularity since she released it as a free download on the Internet in 2003.
Candi Easter, Kern County Democratic Chairperson, spoke about how dictionaries define the terms 'progressive' (modern, advanced, forward-thinking, enlightened, innovative) and 'regressive' (becoming less advanced, returning to a former less developed state). Most of the people in Kern County fall into the second category, Easter said. It is better to build a great society than a great economy, she said, then urged progressive people to 'stand up and work together' to educate others about what is at stake in the next election. 'Before Bush was President, we had a surplus in our treasury that could have been spent on healthcare and education for our own citizens, gas was $1.46 a gallon, the dollar was strong and held as the standard for the entire world, and we were respected as a great nation worldwide,' said Easter.
Holly Hart, a Creative Business Consultant from Tehachapi, encouraged the progressive members of the Kern Valley community to invest in local leadership of our youth, to become more informed about who serves in local government and what each position represents, and to stop waiting for 'them' to make the changes we crave. 'You need to stop fighting against everything and tell us what you are fighting for,' advised Hart, 'Ask yourself ’ÄòWhat did I do today to make the world a better place?''
Members of KVPAC then took turns speaking about the projects that they take part in to help make a change for the better. Husband and wife team Dave Derr and Dawn Jordan spoke about their involvement in the Gulf Relief and Support Program (GRASP), in which they travel to New Orleans at least once a year with a group of other concerned citizens to help rebuild homes for people who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Holly Spohn-Gross talked about her involvement in a group of doctors who travel to Mexico several times each year to volunteer in health clinics where impoverished villagers would otherwise have to travel 100 miles or more for health care; and many other KVPAC members took turns talking about the many programs in which they volunteer to have a positive impact on the world. 'Get involved and stay involved,' urged Heather Berry, 'If there’s something you don’t like, don’t complain, do something about it.'
Next up was a group of women of all ages dressed in pink, and Dianne Sousa of the San Luis Obispo chapter of Code Pink explained that the organization is an international woman-initiated peace and social justice group working to end the war in Iraq. Sousa said that their chapter of Code Pink has made a statement on Highway 1 between Fresno and Morro Bay by purchasing billboard space that says, simply, 'War Sucks!' The women led a slightly altered version of the Pledge of Allegiance, which included peace and compassion for all, as well as liberty and justice. 'This is our country and our flag, too,' said Sousa, 'We can change things for the better with joy and compassion.'
David Levy of the Youth Progressive Majority (YPM) spoke next, explaining that his organization is a collaboration of 24-39 year old artists and professionals using their voice for positive change. Levy said that people in this age group are least likely to vote but most affected by public policy, so they are working to increase votership in this demographic. He encouraged young people to get involved in local politics, where changes are more likely to be made. 'Washington D.C. is a reflection of what is happening on the local level, not the other way around,' he said.
In addition to being a day of peace, the Freedom Festival was also a Step It Up event, a national rally in which people throughout the US gathered to demand real leadership on climate change. Valerie Cassity, Programs Director of Sequoia ForestKeeper, spoke about global warming, and gave tips on what people could do individually to reduce their carbon footprint and help slow climate change. Cassity had borrowed two recycling bins from Big Blue Bear to help ensure that the event was earth-friendly. 'A clean planet crosses all political and religious boundaries, and is something we all need to survive and thrive,' she said.
Cenk Uyger of Air America’s 'The Young Turks,' who has appeared many times as a commentator on CNN, was the last to speak at the event. Uyger spoke of his immigration to America at the age of eight from Turkey, and how at first he resented being displaced to a foreign culture, but quickly came to love America for the hopes and opportunities it offered. A lifelong Republican until recently, Uyger used to organize pro-war rallies in 1991, and continued to vote Republican until the last election, when he became fed up with the direction that President Bush had taken this country. Uyger gave a quick but thorough history of the war in Iraq, and said that the President should be impeached for the many laws he has broken, including the Geneva Convention. 'You don’t attack countries that haven’t attacked you; that set a terrible precedent,' said Uyger.
Although he was unable to attend the Freedom Festival, Congressman Kevin McCarthy of the 22nd District, in which the Kern Valley is included, issued the following statement: "The debate about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is one that I encourage as we look for solutions to increase stability and security, and create a situation on the ground where our troop levels can eventually be reduced in what we all hope is the near future.¬Ý Our brave men and women continue to perform brilliantly in the fight everyday against al-Qaeda in Iraq.¬Ý Our military commanders’ new strategy is working, especially in areas previously thought to be lost to the enemy.¬Ý Towns are being secured and Iraq is more accountable.¬Ý With progress being made, we must continue to support our brave men and women serving abroad as they fight for a peaceful world for our children.¬Ý As we continue to debate the best way forward for our nation, our troops, and Iraq, we must keep in mind that this is an American issue that affects our future, not a political issue for Republicans or Democrats.'
In addition to the many diverse and informative speakers at the Freedom Festival, there were several information and action booths for citizens to begin to become more informed and take action. KVPAC had set up a table of letters and petitions on a variety of topics, so that festival attendees had only to read and sign them, as well as showcasing a variety of environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday items, such as laundry detergent and toilet paper. Code Pink had a table in which information on how to start a new chapter was distributed, Young Progressive Majority was recruiting young people to become involved, and one table had a petition to request Al Gore to run for President in 2008.
The event ended shortly before 5 p.m., with Lizzy West gathering everyone near the stage for a sing-along of Bob Marley’s 'Get Up Stand Up,' and requesting that everyone boycott their television and become more active in improving the world around them. 'I want to live in a society and a country where people care about everyone, not just themselves,' said YPM Executive Director Sonia Rasula.
Cathy Perfect contributed to this article.
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