Last Night Santa Cruz Discussion
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Decentralized is the idea that no one person or group is making it happen. There is no central committee nor board of directors. Everyone is in charge. Collective simply means we all do it. I like those ideas because we have a chance to slip these subversive ideas into a benign community event.
I think Last Night DIY is an explicitly political parade to take control of our streets, an attempt to feel as ordinary people that we have some power in our lives. And I think the thousand or more people who participated last year recognized that. It is our major strength.
I have great hopes for the political savvy of the people of our little community. As a people we are exhausted, frustrated, angry that no one is standing up to say Enough! Enough of the police state, endless warfare, exploitation, environmental degradation, alienation, destruction of native cultures. The list goes on and on. And meanwhile people at the top are getting stinking rich off of this misery. We say, Ya Basta!
This parade is not merely a celebration, but a celebration of the power that we all have when we gather together to make something happen. Not just a street party, but a party to reclaim our streets.
--Rico 12/4/06
Fucking A. I'll be there on New Year's Eve. Maybe I'll even go to the December 2nd gathering, though "organization" is definitely not my thing. And calling it "dis-organizing" still won't cut it for me. Hopefully there is enough momentum that our parade of black-clad housewives and glamourous assassins, of roaring children and laughing lions, of pixie agent provacateurs and random human beings, et. al. will be able to spontaneously conquer downtown!
~A
"I joined the fun last year with my tandem-trike. It was a real blast. I don't know what I'll be riding this year but I hope to bring a lot of friends to the party. See you 12/31/06"
-Scott