We woke up in Augusta to an amazing breakfast cooked by the world famous Ayman Fadel, Mmmmmmm. Thanks Ayman! After a nice warm meal and some strategizing with Ayman and Joey we said our goodbyes and hit the road Statesboro bound. On the way to the Boro we played the 5’s game, where you go around in a circle and asked each other questions like, “what’s you top favorite bands” or, “what’s tope 5 least favorite animals”.
We rolled up to the French Quarter Café around 4pm which gave us more then enough time to set u p for the show, a nice change for a chronically late organizer. The local organizer that put together our last stop, Jeremy Foreman, had planned a film screening and discussion to proceed the usual “State Of Change” festivities. So we watched the Film, “Lioness”(www.cinema.handsonogeechee.net/lioness). After the film we had a lively discussion moderated by a local teenage activist Emma Tracy. At one point a civil debate broke out between a Marine recruiter and several active members of Iraq Veterans Against War (www.ivaw.org). Eventually the Marine recruiter admitted to the crowd that there are many military recruiters that knowingly lie to minors in order to convince them to join the war effort.
After the discussion Jeremy took a moment to describe how folks can get involved with Hands On Ogeechee( http://www.handsonogeechee.net/). Then I had the pleasure of introducing, “The Wild”, who played another killer set!
After “The Wild” played I took some time to discuss the state of the anti-war movement in the south before introducing Jason Heard and Maggie Martin from Iraq Veterans Against War. This wasn’t the first time I had heard Jason and Maggie speak so I know that folks were about to be hit with some first hand realities about what’s happening in Iraq. I could tell the audience was deeply effected by their statements and I really appreciated that they were able to stick around and have one on ones with folks.
“Contraverse”, again blew everyone away, they even played an encore just for me. Thanks guys!! After we packed up the bus we were invited to a house party and decided to check it out. Food, fire, and drinks! The local sheriff even showed up to so hello.
We rolled up to the French Quarter Café around 4pm which gave us more then enough time to set u p for the show, a nice change for a chronically late organizer. The local organizer that put together our last stop, Jeremy Foreman, had planned a film screening and discussion to proceed the usual “State Of Change” festivities. So we watched the Film, “Lioness”(www.cinema.handsonogeechee.net/lioness). After the film we had a lively discussion moderated by a local teenage activist Emma Tracy. At one point a civil debate broke out between a Marine recruiter and several active members of Iraq Veterans Against War (www.ivaw.org). Eventually the Marine recruiter admitted to the crowd that there are many military recruiters that knowingly lie to minors in order to convince them to join the war effort.
After the discussion Jeremy took a moment to describe how folks can get involved with Hands On Ogeechee( http://www.handsonogeechee.net/). Then I had the pleasure of introducing, “The Wild”, who played another killer set!
After “The Wild” played I took some time to discuss the state of the anti-war movement in the south before introducing Jason Heard and Maggie Martin from Iraq Veterans Against War. This wasn’t the first time I had heard Jason and Maggie speak so I know that folks were about to be hit with some first hand realities about what’s happening in Iraq. I could tell the audience was deeply effected by their statements and I really appreciated that they were able to stick around and have one on ones with folks.
“Contraverse”, again blew everyone away, they even played an encore just for me. Thanks guys!! After we packed up the bus we were invited to a house party and decided to check it out. Food, fire, and drinks! The local sheriff even showed up to so hello.
Oh yeah, we got great media coverage thanks to Jeremy and Caitin Barrow for e-mailing,faxing, and cold calling media. We made the cover of "Connect"!
So this was our last “State Of Change” tour stop, and it was a truly successful tour on so many levels. “State Of Change” built on the success of 2007’s “State Of Hope” (www.stateofhope.blogspot.com) tour. We’re already talking about how to build on this years tour and make 2009 the year we build the strongest statewide progressive youth movement Georgia’s ever seen!
THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED ORGANIZE A TOUR STOP, HELP FUND THE TOUR, AND CAME OUT!
PEACE,
Tim Franzen
Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition/AFSC
So this was our last “State Of Change” tour stop, and it was a truly successful tour on so many levels. “State Of Change” built on the success of 2007’s “State Of Hope” (www.stateofhope.blogspot.com) tour. We’re already talking about how to build on this years tour and make 2009 the year we build the strongest statewide progressive youth movement Georgia’s ever seen!
THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HELPED ORGANIZE A TOUR STOP, HELP FUND THE TOUR, AND CAME OUT!
PEACE,
Tim Franzen
Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition/AFSC
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