If I had to describe honkfest to someone who’d never heard it, I’d call it a “big activist mardi-gras street party in Somerville”. HONK! is loud, flamboyant, colorful, and full of energy.
One of HONK’s big events is a parade that runs down Elm Street and Mass Ave, from Davis Square to Harvard Square. Occupy Boston marched in this parade, along with Veterans for Peace, Jobs with Justice, SEIU 615, Bread and Puppets, the Royal Frog Ballet, City Life/Vida Urbana, and bands. Lots and lots of really awesome marching bands.
While we were lining up for the parade, I noticed some of the signs and banners that people were carrying; many of them had slogans that you might see at an Occupy action. So I started writing down a list:
- Stop Corporate Greed
- Reclaim the Streets
- Smash a Bank
- We are the 99%
- Oink if you love the 1%
- Hey 99%, Eat Cake!
- End Stop and Frisk
- End Corporate Speech
- Give us Bread and Roses too
- An Injury to One is an Injury to All
- Solidarity
- People Before Profit
- Tax the Rich
I think you could make the argument that Occupy’s most important contributions are the movement’s ideas and ideals. Those ideas and ideals were on proud display at HONK!
2 Responses to “Report Back from HONK!”
Great presence, wish i was there.
HONK was a great day….good responses to all who did the march; great diversity; we lucked out w/the weather. It was an honor to be a part of the parade and festival. Thank you all for the great turn-out, looking forward to next year!