Chicago Mayor and former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel just won approval from the Chicago City Council for a Draconian set of anti protesting ordinances to prepare the city for international protesters who will flood the city for the G8 and NATOs summits scheduled to take place this spring in Chicago. Just like many other cities that use big events as a pretense for concentrating power, Emanuel is drumming up fear to make a grab for power.
Festival del Encanto: The 18th annual Fiesta Boricua
The 18th annual Fiesta Boricua end of summer festival was a celebration of Puerto Rican culture, heritage, and political activism. This annual event unfolded in its usual location on Division Avenue in Chicago between the iconic Puerto Rican Flag gateways to Humboldt Park.
A beautiful mix of food, music, dance, art, solidarity and crisp sunshine made this year’s event a beautiful one. The people of the island as well as many others gathered to celebrate Puerto Rico’s culture, her food, and her people. A well rounded serving of all these things provided for good times despite the overwhelming police presidents and fears of violence in the changing neighborhood of Humboldt Park.
Bomba is the music from northern Puerto Rico, around San Juan. Bomba music and dance were performed by the slave population and resound with the rhythms of Africa, much like Cuba’s rumba. Bomba is also the name of the drum traditionally used to perform this music. Originally, the only instruments used for bomba were the drum by the same name and maracas; the melodies were sung in a dialogue with the percussion, while the women raised their skirts as they danced to mimic the plantation “ladies”.
From the roots of Veracruz, Mexico and the influence of Chicano activism in California, Son Mudanza was created to disseminate culture as a form of resistance. Deeply influenced and trained by Son del Centro, a Chicano son group, dedicating its efforts to activism through Son Jarocho music. Likewise, Son Mudanza uses poetry, dance and music to empower and resist against ideology that is set to suppress differences. The poetry we sing expresses current realities in the form of love, liberation, social change, identity, and resistance on both sides of the border, and globally. We believe in solidarity and support for other social movements that believe in the power of difference, as the Zapatistas say: “A world where many worlds fit”.
Lantern on the mic, Weapon X on the drums, J Thunda on bass, Shannon on guitar, Il Subliminal hosting, rapping and playing keys. Visithttp://www.snapsandhooks.com/ for more info on upcoming events.
Joe Price and Bailiff tear through Joe’s “Hornet’s Nest.” Recorded live at Chicago’s fantastic Q4 Gallery, August of 2009.
