SWOPblogger: Rocking the Cause

Thursday, August 31, 2006

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Rocking the Cause

The city denies a permit for a local youth event and draws the ire of organizers

By Amy Dalness - Alibi

Right: Youth members of the SouthWest Organizing Project gather for a rally on Civic Plaza. (photo by Wes Naman)

Standing atop a soapbox on the stage of Civic Plaza, Rodrigo Rodríguez, 18, put down the feedback-inducing microphone and spoke to his peers without amplification.

“This was a positive event,” he said. “We weren't coming over here to party and throw down ... we were coming to educate people. We were coming to empower people. We were coming so people could learn, so they could live healthy, more informed lives.”

Amid the cheers, Rodríguez stepped down from the soapbox to make way for another speaker. He all but faded away into a crowd of young and old, wearing T-shirts bearing the title of the event that was to be: Rock Out With Your Cause Out. Read More.

# posted by karlos @ 10:16 AM