BA Everywhere at the San Francisco Pride Festival
Every year, for a weekend in June, up to 1 million people gather for the world renowned celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, and their families, friends and allies. Amidst this sea of people, BA Everywhere was in the mix, getting out palm cards and distributing copies of Revolution. We had two banners, featuring the BA quote, “No more generations of youth, here and around the world,” and referencing the murder of Trayvon Martin and promoting the Revolutionary BAsics Bus Tours. We encouraged people to sign and send messages to the sisters and brothers in New York City for the upcoming tour. And people did step forward, old and young, of every ethnicity, from every part of the country - and the world! Especially excited were youth, including many youth of color from communities outside of the Bay Area. They were exhilarated that they could, on this day, and in this place, feel free to hold hands openly and show their affection for one another.
By the end of the day, one of the banners was completely filled, with hardly any space left for more messages and signatures.
Though people had never before heard of BA, they definitely got the quote! We learned that the quote had a particular resonance to people who have been bullied, attacked and even killed for who they are. And they wanted to spread to others the hope that the world could be vastly different.
Bay Area: Taking out Basics 1:13 and Justice for Trayvon Martin
In the days going into June 5, The National Day of Justice for Trayvon Martin, we took a banner that had an enlargement of the BAsics 1:13, “No more generations of our youth…” quote and a heading that read: To All the Trayvon Martin’s All Over The World, We Got Your Back!! out to a street corner in front of a favorite coffee spot and crossroads of progressive people of all nationalities from the middle class, cultural forces, college students and some youth from all over the city. Sentiments and conversations started to surface as we opened up with agitation around BAsics 1:13 and the need for everyone to step up step out for June 5. Before we get into all the ways people got involved, here are some statements that were made at that corner:
