As we had reported, John Penley had organized a protest/fiesta Halloween night in Tompkins Square. The event was set to last from 7 p.m. to midnight or so... I didn't make it to the Park until 10 p.m. No one was there. I was told only a handful of people turned out. Penley wasn't there.
He offered an explanation via Facebook: "Some pretty heavy stuff came down on me the night before Halloween. I got maced and someone else close to me got a baseball bat to the face. I have gone into hiding for awhile. This is why I was not at TSP on Halloween."
Penley did say that filmmaker Vlad Teichberg was there at midnight for a “culture jam” projection. There should be a video soon.
While the protest didn't materialize, I thought there was a healthy discussion about concerts in Tompkins Square Park, a permanent bandshell ... and local politicians ... all leading up to Halloween. (Read the 74 comments here.)
Previous John Penley protest coverage on EV Grieve:
At the Donut Social
At the 47 E. 3rd St. Protest
At the Bowery Wine Co. protest
If there had been any real interest in this protest, it would have gone on without the main leader. Concerts in the park isn't a big issue for most people in the neighborhood. We're all worried about earning enough money to pay our rent and put food on the table. We're worried about crime. We don't have the time or energy to worry about concerts in the park. The kids who play in the bands didn't even care enough to show up. There are more important things for everybody to deal with right now.
ReplyDeleteOkay if the guy who was going to run the protest was maced and his buddy was beaten up by someone with a baseball bat it seems to me like we all ought to be working to combat crime not to get another concert or two in the park. I'm in with any cause that makes the hood safer.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the " Zippies" will talk to the media and tell why the smoke in wuz smoked out ... Hope mr. Penley is well
ReplyDeletetake care john. we got your back!
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement with Anon 1 & 2. I walked through the park that night and was wondering why nothing was there. It was oddly quiet for Halloween.
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