Longtime fans of the Progressive Festival (like me) expect it to come around last weekend in September. But this year, the only date for SF Mime Troupe, a great favorite of the crowd, was Sun., July 22nd, 1pm till about 6pm – so organizer, Chuck Sher, called his friend, Jim Hightower and others and we get this fine speaker guy AND the Mime Troupe 1-5pm July 22nd at Walnut Park, the traditional venue. See http://jimhightower.com/node/7745 for more on Jim. I arranged for Jim Hightower a few years back – great raconteur! And nice guy who breaks through the junk in political rhetoric to come up with true things that make us laugh, cry a bit, take action. Like that a lot!
Did you ever read Thieves in High Places? That’s his. VERY funny and wise…”The corporations don’t have to lobby the government anymore,” he says “they are the government.” Say it isn’t so.
Other great speakers this year include but are not limited to:
MEDEA BENJAMIN – co-founder of Code Pink and Global Exchange
CON. LYNN WOOLSEY – retiring co-chair of the Progressive Caucus in Congress.
DAVID COBB – spokesperson for the Move To Amend campaign
C.J. HOLMES – spokesperson for the movement to stop home foreclosures
Also speakers on immigrant rights, the Occupy movement, and more.
“Many Social Justice, Environmental, Labor, and Community Organizations will have Informational booths/tables. Your group’s fee helps defray costs of the festival (we have no outside funding). Only $25-$50, sliding scale, $75 for commercial booths.” says their press release.
And the Mime Troupe – what’s not to admire? Clever and dear and brave plus great agit prop actors. Music and costumes pretty slick, too. Wouldn’t miss.
Amenities at the Fest: great homemade tamales, sandwiches and brownies, good folk to talk to about their various projects and issues.
So come if you care do – FREE! I certainly do care about the Petaluma Progressive Festival and so glad its once again featuring the Mime Troupe and Jim Hightower, Medea Benjamin and more.
Expect a few thousand people to be in attendance, but somehow you can find a seat at the Mime Troupe’s fine political satire show, this year’s being The Last Election. Will be swell in that slightly shocking, very entertaining, SF Mime Troupe way.
This from the Progressives flier:
Every year the Progressive Festival is the premier political gathering in the North Bay and this year is co-hosted by The Petaluma Progressives and Occupy Petaluma.
Always free to the public, the Festival will feature:
A brand-new performance by the SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE, “The Last Election” http://www.sfmt.org
MEDEA BENJAMIN – co-founder of Code Pink and Global Exchange. One of the world’s most dynamic and inspiring advocates for peace & justice. http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=51
WILL DURST – one of America’s funniest political satirists. Will is a 5-time Emmy nominee; has been fired by PBS three times. His 800+ television appearances include Letterman, HBO, Showtime, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, the BBC and many more. http://willdurst.com
Rep. LYNN WOOLSEY – retiring Congresswoman from the North Bay, co-chair of the Progressive Caucus in the House of Representative. Come and thank Lynn for her service! http://woolsey.house.gov
DAVID COBB – spokesperson for the Move to Amend campaign, and former Green Party candidate for Governor of California. http://movetoamend.org
MICKEY HUFF – Director of Project Censored, one of the most widely-respected progressive groups in America and beyond. http://www.projectcensored.org
C.J. HOLMES – Spokesperson for the movement to stop home foreclosures. http://www.hofj.org
There will also be speakers From the Committee for Immigrant Rights, Sonoma County; the Occupy Movement in the North Bay; and more.
To help the festive atmosphere, there will be live music by Diego Jameau – Haitian musician and whistler performing music in various Caribbean styles. http://www.twinsoulsmusic.net/diego.htm
Many community and political groups with informational tables. Food and drink available. To reserve booth/table space at the event, call 707-763-8134