We've Reclaimed the Commons, It's time to take them Back!

We created, not one, but at least five temporary autonomous zones. First there was the free Free State in golden gate park -- I wasn't able to attend but I've heard it went off quite well.

Secondly, there was the Really Really Free Market in the heart of SF Capitalism -- this event embodied much of what this movement was about and I was thrilled to be there for it. I hope this is only the first of many free markets in San Francisco -- anyone want to help organize the second for July 4th and make it the first Sunday of the month?

The third TAZ was the convergence center itself, how many of us felt like that became our second home while it was buzzing with activity? How fucking awesome was that? What can we do to resurrect that space? I know I would love to see that building become a community center of sorts, The Perma-Culture Center, maybe?

The Fourth and Fifth TAZ's came about by sheer synchronistic chance. At Fourth between Howard and Mission, on the morning of June 8th, a celebratory space gave birth as we took over that block for our true celebration of bio-diversity. We danced, the drummers played, yarn was strung about the block as we showed the world the realization of our mantra, "Welcome to Possible." Free Food was brought to us by Food Not Bombs and we relished in our utopia until the police decided that the delegates were about to go to lunch and forcefully removed us from the streets. Shouting, swinging and snarling the police herded us onto the sidewalk as we fled back to our safe spaces including the welcome Center at 960 Howard.

At Fifth and Market arose the Fifth and final temporary autonomous zone I encountered during Reclaim the Commons. As The Mutant Street Party began its journey down Market, everything felt a little bit uncertain. Our Parade began at the edge of UN Plaza and it wasn't long before the cops had flanked our group, first guiding us off of Market St. towards the Tenderloin and then chasing us back onto Market again as we neared our final destination at Fifth and Market. As the Cops surrounded us on all sides we all began to get a little tense waiting for the police to give the order that we all know so well by now, "As an officer of the San Francisco Traffic Department I'm ordering you back onto the Sidewalk. If you refuse to do so, you will be arrested," but the order never came. Tentatively we resumed our celebration in spite of the menacing officers that had surrounded us on all sides by now. Suddenly we heard what we thought would be our orders to disperse. We were ready to go on our way, perhaps to resume on a sidewalk plaza somewhere nearby, or perhaps to dissipate back to the welcome center...

"Do Not Attempt To Cross The Police Line, If You Do So You WIll Be Struck By Police Batons. YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST."

What the fuck? We wondered, dazed and albeit a little bit confused. What happened to the order to disperse? Weren't we supposed to get an opportunity to flea to the sidewalks in defeat? People who just happened to be crossing the street as our entourage neared Fifth and Market were now under arrest along with several passers-by that just happened to join into a street festival they encountered. This is San Francisco after all, parades, block parties, and protests are basically safe and common-place events. All of us, were now under arrest.

Realizing our fate, a true celebration of life erupted as the music rose up once again. We danced. We chanted, we started a limbo and we celebrated our freedom and rejoiced in our solidarity. People with extra cigarettes shared with those that had run out, what little food and water some of us had brought was passed around freely. Once again, inside a police line we realized possible, and some people smoked pot in front of the police, safely under arrest.

Of course, the celebration did not last long and the police quickly seized our sound system. They made us wait for several hours while the police seemed to do nothing but eat snack food and drink bottled water while we grew tired and thirsty. It was approximately 6:15 in the evening when we were told that we were under arrest, by 11:30PM I was still waiting to be taken into the paddy-wagon and I wasn't the last. For over 5 hours, we were denied both water, as well as a means to comfortably and legally relieve ourselves.

And still, despite all these efforts on the part of local law enforcement, everyone was in quite good spirits in the holding facility outside 850 Bryant as those of us who were unable to participate in jail solidarity waited to be processed. As they called out for the John Does, we raised our fists and sang "Solidarity Forever" not knowing when we'd see our friends again.

Getting out of jail, there were people all around us -- helping us with food, and water and love -- it was a great feeling having you all outside the jail with your support. And I'm glad I was able to be there when all our John and Jane Does were finally released.

No, we didn't stop the further development of Bio-Technology; No, we didn't break down all the multinational corporations in this world. Now that we've Reclaimed The Commons, it's time that we begin to think about how we can go about actually getting them back!

Reclaim the Commons was not June 3rd through 9th, Reclaim the Commons was our declaration in action. "Reclaim the Commons. Take it back! Seeds will grow when the empires crack!"

Well, let's not stop now. Let's continue this campaign and take back the commons. Perhaps one of our most cherished commons in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Park has been under attack for some time and is already deeply wounded. What can we do to channel the energy that we've built up through Reclaim the Commons into stopping the destruction of this wonderful park? Any ideas?

What else can we do to continue our efforts towards Reclaiming the Commons?