This Week
in Congress
Congressional floor Schedule
New York
ABATE Update
Past
Commentaries
City2 Home
The troublesome Freaknic picnic held last year in a nearby Chicago Suburb is rearing its head once again. Richard Barnes the promoter of the event is claiming discrimination against his group. Mr. Barnes and most of his fellow picnickers are African- American. The community surrounding Schiller Woods where the picnic was held is predominately White.
At last years event a crowd of ten thousand plus showed up in a grove that is designed for several hundred. Crowds spilled into the street, with drunken picnickers attaching passing cars, and wrecking havoc in the well kept blue-collar neighborhood. Police and reporters described it as near riot conditions.
Cook County Board President John Stroger, who is African- American himself denied Mr. Barnes a permit to hold the Freakmic this year. Mr. Barnes is planning to hold the event with or with out a permit. He has started a public relations campaign, trying to enlist the motorcyclist rights group ABATE of Illinois. He attended the Chicago Chapter meeting on Wednesday July 21. The ABATE crowd was somewhat hostile to his proposal. Many members are from the community where the Freaknic was held. Mr. Barnes is saying that his event is a motorcycle event and ABATE should help him fight what he claims to be police harassment. He stated his organization is actively working to stop the violence that is plaguing his community. The ABATE organization asked Mr. Barnes to submit a written statement explaining exactly what community service activities his organization is engaged in. The matter was tabled pending that report.
Alderman William J. P. Banks who's 36th Ward borders Schiller Woods, is promising area residents more than adequate police protection, should Mr. Barnes go ahead with his plans.
Add into this already tense situation it has been reported to City2 E-News that several White Supremacists outfits are planning a demonstration outside the Freaknic, should it be held.
More on the Freaknic next week.
Reform Party
A struggle is under way in what was once a mere vehicle for the Ross Perot candidacy. The Reform Party held is annual convention this past weekend in Dearborn Michigan, and it is unclear at this time if "Ross the boss" has the votes to remain in control. Challenger, Minnesota Governor Jessie Ventura, nee "The Body" is working behind the scenes to push Perot into an elder statesman role. Ross Perot has not declared his intentions for 2000. The Reform Party will name its candidate next summer.
On this Sundays Meet The Press, Governor Ventura, made it clear that the time has come for a new Reform Party head. Ventura hotly denies reports about his own presidential ambitions. He says he made a promise to the people of Minnesota to finish a full term as governor. This is probably true, look for former Connecticut governor Lowell Weicker to get Ventura's blessing.
Meet The Press host Tim Russet, quizzed Ventura about his participation in the WWF'S Summer Slam wrestling bout, in which the good Governor will act as a referee. Governor Ventura says that he will earn $100,000 for his appearance. This money will be donated to a scholarship fund, to be created for students at Ventura's former high school. He says he is doing the wrestling show on is own time, and even though he is Governor he can still have fun.
Tim Russet's closing comments on the Ventura segment were, " An American original"
Indeed.