Reverend Billy, pastor of the Church of Stop Shopping, found himself lifted to the vanguard of a huge, 3-university strike in Berlin, where taxes and school fees are continuing to alienate those of modest means.

Thousands of students shut down much of Berlin, and the Rev led about 500 participants from Eddie Bauer to the Potsdamer Platz Starbucks. Corporate "developers" built this supermall near Checkpoint Charley after the Wall fell.

Miami-style cops jailed the Rev under the flustering logic of "no crime but you have to take the ride," but the rally continued. Savitri Durkee, director of the Rev. Billy project, addressed the throngs near the Tempodrom in Central Berlin: "This is the trend with public funds: Privatize and Deny. In New York, California, England…we stand in solidarity."

Rev. Billy (aka Bill Talen), Durkee and Stop Shopping Gospel Choir soloist James Solomon Benn were invited to Berlin for the Maulherden "Verbal Heroes" Festival, when they got caught up in local events.

For more information:
www.revbilly.com