Freedom Festival to feature nationally known guests
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Valerie Cassity-Special to the Sun
A call for change will take place next month as the Kern Valley Progressive Alliance for Change (KVPAC) will sponsor their second annual Freedom Festival on Nov. 3 from 12-5 p.m. at Riverside Park in Kernville. The event will feature speakers advocating worldwide peace and political change, while representing progressive political values.
Cenk Uyger of Air America’s 'The Young Turks,' who has appeared many times as a commentator on CNN, will be one of the featured speakers at the event. Also speaking will be Chairperson of the Kern County Democratic Party Candi Easter, members of the Young Progressive Majority, Arlington West, and several members of KVPAC. Expected to make a guest appearance is political activist Wesley Clark, Jr., son of former NATO Supreme Commander and presidential hopeful, General Wesley Clark.
'I’m most excited about Arlington West coming,' said KVPAC co-founder and spokesperson Bob Gross. West has created a movie about the movement Santa Barbara where people place crosses on the beach every Sunday since the war started, much like Arlington Cemetery, to represent the soldiers who have died in Iraq. 'Every week the numbers increase,' said Gross.
In addition to the higher profile speakers, perhaps most poignant will be the voices of those who have personally experienced the tragedies of the war. One American soldier who has returned from his tour in Iraq will speak about the reality of war there, and the mother of a soldier who was not fortunate enough to make it back home will tell her story.
In addition to the many speakers lined up for the festival, there will also be some great live music. Making a special appearance from Minnesota will be Lizzy West and the White Buffalo, performing their song, '19 Miles to Baghdad,' which has been featured on the NPR radio show Democracy Now with Amy Goodman. The group will be kicking off their nationwide tour at the Freedom Festival. Also performing will be several local groups from the Tehachapi and Kern Valley areas, including Kernville’s own Out of the Blue.
The Kern Valley Progressive Alliance for Change’ÄîKVPAC’Äîis a group of concerned individuals who joined forces following the 2004 presidential election with the mission to bring a voice of sanity and reason back to political discourse. Their hope is to accomplish this through education and action. KVPAC members have strong ties to the Kern River Valley and believe that all activism begins locally, and must be based on universally held beliefs in the betterment of society. Every Sunday from 12-1 p.m. KVPAC members hold anti-war protests at Circle Park where they hold signs that say 'Enough,' and anyone who is interested in ending the war is welcome and encouraged to join them.
The Freedom Festival is free to the public, and everyone is welcome. Attendees are asked to bring a chair or blanket, as there will be no festival seating, and children are welcome and encouraged to attend. There will not be any vendors at the festival, so plan to bring a picnic lunch. 'Come and enjoy and feel connected,' encouraged Gross.
For more information, visit the KVPAC website at www.kvpac.com.
