[van-announce] Working Class Cafe: on the EVE of class christmas

[Big Garlic Bobcat]

WORKING CLASS CAFÉ PRESENTS - THIS WEEKS SHOW:
ON THE EVE OF CLASS CHRISTMAS

Wednesday December 24th, 8:30PM
at the Cornuco-opia
1359 Kingsway (at Knight)

Join us every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for our show ‘WORKING
CLASS CAFÉ’. Our aim is to provide a free space for working class
musicians to play for working class folks.  We see that the working class
has less to celebrate this year than ever, we have lost our jobs, our
welfare, our healthcare, and yet more.  The message of consumption is
stuffed down our tired throats like an ungodly turkey, while it is
impossible for many of us to afford any gifts for those we love.  I often
think of this barefooted nomad they once called Jesus, who was killed by
the religious authorities in Jerusalem.  How could they have taken this
homeless figure from the Essene Movement and turn him into a cestpool of a
cult holidays?  This week we have a couple of ex-ministers that may be
able to speak to that.

The Cornuco-opia features fair trade organic Guatemalan coffee and other
good food alternatives such as hemp ice cream. The line-up for Wednesday
December 24th is as follows:


FEATURING - KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
REV. GEORGE FEENSTRA: This past year George Feenstra was relieved of his
ministerial duties because of his radical work in the Mt. Pleasant
Community.  As a United Church Minister George Feenstra believed that it
was his job to clothe the poor and ease their suffering.  He allowed
homeless people, sex trade workers, and addicts to access the church to
have their needs met.  Mt Pleasant Community members were angry that
George was handing out condoms, needles and other things while allowing
people to camp out behind the church.  George Feenstra was also attacked
by the Vancouver Police Department while doing a clown act at Brittania
School, as people protested Gordon Campbell’s appearance in the Commercial
Drive area.  He is currently on trial for that incident now dubbed the
Oct. 3rd Brittania Police Riot.

REV. KEVIN ANNETT:  This former United Church Minister became very
outspoken in Port Alberni.  The Port Alberni United Church had been
involved in running local residential schools for indiginous youth.  Over
the course of more than 100 years, tens of thousands of native youth died
of preventable illness.  Other native youth were outrightly murdered. 
Kevin Annett believed these things he was being told and took the United
Church to task.  Eventually he was fired from his ministerial job, the
United Church tried to paint Kevin as a madman. Undettered by all this
Kevin Annett has been a tireless speaker about genocide in Canada, hosting
a CO-OP radio show (Mondays 1PM), lecture series and many gatherings. 
Recently Kevin, and some Native youth began to occupy churches on Sunday
morning demanding that the churches make up for their role in Canada’s
genocidal history.

HOST: Joey Only has been entertaining people with his mix of charged
bluegrass, militant folk songs, and working class stories. Joey has been a
constant public performer for the past ten years beginning in Ontario, and
also playing for audiences across the country. He came west to climb
mountains and see the ocean. Joey’s first political work was as a writer
and as a busker. In the last few years Joey has been more active as an
organizer than as a musician.

plus more


LAST WEEKS SHOW: Dec 10th
Four people from the Elk Creek Camp came into the City for the first time
in weeks.  After Joey opened the night with songs, an informal question
and answer session began.  Campers spoke about the camp and their treesit.
 An audience member donated 100ft of climbing rope to the camp, which was
one of the most important donations they could get.  Two people played
songs, audience members were given time to talk about what was on their
minds, and make announcements.  Then Joey finished the night with a biting
version of the Underground Railroad song ‘Follow the Drinking Gourd’ and
Bob Dylans scathing anti-war masterpiece ‘Masters of War.’  It was a
highly successful show, informal, and participatory.  People hung around
into the middle of the night eating ice cream and laughing.

If you are interested in playing at the Working Class Café Show, or your
organization would like to have a keynote speaker as our feature contact. 
We invite musicians to come play songs, so don’t be afraid to show up with
a guitar.

garlicbobcat (at) resist.ca
organized with the Cornuco-opia

“Come you masters of war,
you that build the big bombs,
you that build the deathplanes,
you that build the big bombs,
you hide behind walls,
and you hide behind desks,
I just want you to know I can see through your masks.”