Taking action in Kalamazoo

[DJ MEW]

I haven't really posted much in here but I got something I want to run past people.

As an organizer of the Kalamazoo chapter of World Can't Wait I got a few things I want to run past you guys.

Marching through Kalamazoo, for no reason other then messing up traffic and bursting the comfort bubble of the inactive masses. Is that a good idea? With or with out a permit? (Inconveniencing people is the only way to get the message across to some of these people.)

Underground raves and tech-no parties? Would that be an effective way to get a message across and bring people out?

Would these things be better if they were coupled with a teach-in on the illegal actions of the Bush program? I want to do something that is issue driven but still a little rowdy and still bring out a lot of people.

Thoughts?

[joeygirl]

1. I'm not sure underground raves and tech-no parties would

work in K-zoo. The area might be trending blue, but it's still got a conservative bent, especially if you are talking about the 'burbs and the farm areas. Yeah, you'll get the younger people, but not everyone is going to be into that scene. And when a lot of those people think raves,they think drugs, and the more conservative folks won't want to be a part of that. And the point is to show that there's a diverse coalition that agrees that the war is wrong.

If you really want to get noticed, hold your event somewhere in Portage. I keep thinking somewhere near the corner of Miliham and Westnedge so they see you when the go to do their shopping at the malls. Portage Northern or Hackett would be perfect for the teach in location....If by some miracle, you can round up enough people, marching through that area of Westnedge would be a sight....
especially since that's where everyone does their shopping. I hear that downtown is making a comeback, but if you want to reach the most people, you've got to be were the people are, and this time of year-it's near Southland and Crossroads. JMHO.

[noonwitch]

2. K-Zoo question

What ever happened to Galley Subs, near WMU (it used to be on Howard ST, across from the shopping center where Bilbos is)? I drove by last spring, to see the campus, and there are apartments or condos where Galley used to be. They were so good, as was the TE Murch's deli chain that was once at all the area malls.

I graduated from WMU in 1986, and really hadn't been back by campus since the early 90s. It looks very different than it did then.