Just back from actions in Barcelona, Spain, Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping have fought Starbucks, Disney and Walmart in support of independent businesses and the survival of our neighborhoods.
The Church performed on Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, April 20. Church was held at Borders, the GAP, Starbucks, and Urban Outfitters.
Reverend Billy and the Stop Big Boxes Gospel Choir are on a singing and preaching tour from L.A. to Humboldt County April 16 to 24, performing for citizens, activist groups and union locals who are resisting the predatory influx of transnational chain stores.
Some performances take place in theaters, others are "retail interventions" – unannounced, unpermitted appearances that take place in "contested space" supercenter lobbies, sweatshop dressing rooms and strip mall parking lots. Throughout its seven year existence the OBIE-winning Church of Stop Shopping has fought Starbucks, Disney, Walmart (to name a few) promoting independent businesses and gift, thrift and barter economies; encouraging the survival of our neighborhoods; and giving a voice to countless sweatshop workers worldwide.
The Church of Stop Shopping performs radical "retail interventions" of political theater cloaked in evangelical fervor.
Reverend Billy and the Stop Big Boxes Gospel Choir are on a singing and preaching tour from L.A. to Humboldt County April 17 to 24, performing for citizens, activist groups and union locals who are resisting the predatory influx of transnational chain stores. Fourteen events over the course of the week include a Los Angeles screening of Playloud! Productions documentary "Reverend Billy", a live concert for tree-sitters near Arcata and the finale performance at the 1400 seat Castro Theater in San Francisco.
Some performances take place in theaters, others are "retail interventions" –unannounced, unpermitted appearances that take place in "contested space" supercenter lobbies, sweatshop dressing rooms and strip mall parking lots. Throughout its seven year existence the OBIE-winning Church of Stop Shopping has fought Starbucks, Disney, Walmart (to name a few) promoting independent businesses and gift, thrift and barter economies; encouraging the survival of our neighborhoods; and giving a voice to countless sweatshop workers worldwide.
Retail Interventions
Retail Interventions are one of the many ways to communicate with corporations.
Retail Interventions send the message that multinational corporations are not welcome in the community.
Church members entered the Gap on Pacific Ave. and then headed to Starbucks for a morning sermon.
Reverend Billy then lead people across the street for singing and dancing at the Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company. Reverend Billy praised the SCCRC for being a locally owned coffee shop and working with farmers in Latin America.
Urban Outfitters is the newest corporation leaching money out of Santa Cruz and into the pockets of ultra-conservative republicans.
