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pics from venus' "reclaim LOVE" action at piccadilly, valentine's day 2004

rikki | 15.02.2004 12:19 | Indymedia | London

venus was joined by rhythms of resistance samba band in an action at eros yesterday to reclaim valentine's day from the corporate marketeers by staging a mass group hug.

here are a few pics from the afternoon.

eros holds some heart balloons
eros holds some heart balloons

venus roused the crowd with a beautiful speech
venus roused the crowd with a beautiful speech

police arrive to check us out
police arrive to check us out

...but the police don't want to hug :(
...but the police don't want to hug :(

rhythms of resistance samba
rhythms of resistance samba

o-i-l banner
o-i-l banner

free valentine cards - make your own
free valentine cards - make your own


venus invited people to come together for a group hug this afternoon to celebrate a non-commercial valentine's day in a real and meaningful way.

the statue of eros was adorned with red heart balloons, the steps were decorated with chalk drawings and beautiful thoughts, a stall was set up to supply cardboard and art materials for all to make their own valentine cards, the rhythms of resistance samba band entertained and drew the crowds, and venus roused us all with a beautiful speech before inviting everyone to take part in a mass group hug.

some cops (who refused to take part in the hug) tried to spoil things a little by hassling members of the crowd for no apparent reason, but even they were beaten back by the power of love and slunk to the side-lines to observe.

there's a three minute video of the action that i'll hopefully be posting later

peace

and love

rikki
- Homepage: http://www.o-i-l.org

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

sad

16.02.2004 00:30

Not to sound like a spoil sport but sounds like a ego being massaged. We do not need "activist celebratories"!

sorry

r

"we"?

16.02.2004 20:42

Well, well "spoilsport", speak for yourself! Lots of us love to celebrate. The possibility of joy and freedom is a torch to be held aloft. Thanks Venus and everyone, bet some hearts were unexpectedly touched xx

sparrow

Not sad

17.02.2004 21:50


We do not need "activist celebratories"!


We do need activists who do not mind being visible.

They get stuff done, you might think they are being bossy but at least some people are leading something, you don't have to follow, go find something you like doing...

Amigiac

San Francisco Reclaim The Streets Happy Un-valentines!

19.02.2004 01:24

Hey guys! We took a lot of inspiration from past (and future) London/England RTS's and decided to instigate another reclaim the streets down here for valentines as well. We thought Haight street would be the perfect place to reclaim. Of course the historic street of the hippy era and the modern day hypocrisy in the name of capital ( the same street which sports a gap and ben&jerry's on the corner of Haight and Ashbury)

Anyway, you guys rock, thanks for the inspiration.

"reclaim the streets, reclaim our hearts."

Check it out!
 http://www.indybay.org/arts/

sfrts
- Homepage: http://www.rts-sf.org