Church of Stop Shopping Was Busy This Weekend

Here's a video from Kelly Loudenberg, who writes, "The League of Humane Voters and The Church of Stop Shopping along with the vegan community and East Village residents teamed up this weekend for a rally to stop the closing of The Whole Earth Bakery on Saint Marks. Owner of the bakery, Peter Silvestri was there serving warm food and sweet treats to all."

And here's an update about what happened after Reverend Billy was arrested during his Saturday visit to the Starbucks at Astor Place. The Stop Shopping Monitor says that Reverend Billy was arrested "because he was preaching without identification," but they also claim his presence in a Starbucks might constitute trespassing anyway, since he's banned from all Starbucks all over the world. This is good to know: When you game the Starbucks condiment station, it's okay, but you can't exorcise the forces of capitalism there. (See video here.)

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 5, 2007 3:48 PM

Comments [rss]

Alphabet Citizen

These people are annoying. With so much shit going on in the world, you're gonna waste your time protesting the fact that a business owner can't pay for his retail space?

To each his own, so whatever, protest all you want. I still think you're dumb, though.

anonymass

I have to believe that the proposed raise in rent is more than a token increase or else there wouldn't be all of this hubbub.

Presumably this is about more than making a 'comfortable living.'

Again, it's going to be the same people complaining when books cost $30 per paperback (due to there being no competition) a coffee goes for $8 (like you can get just coffee any more) and when dry cleaning is $6/shirt as a result of all working class people being forced further and further outside city limits.

nick

so you're saying the landlord doesn't have a right to raise the rent as he sees fit so he can make a comfortable living.

if everyone who was protesting to keep that place open had gone there frequently and encouraged friends to do the same, they wouldn't be in this predicament, it surely wasn't low prices that caused them to close.

why does one person's bad business sense have to cause financial loss for another person? is it worth it simply to maintain a "face" for their community?

ratherbebiking

"it's called freedom of speech and assembly. now shut the fuck up, whatev."

Read that again, blank.

beatyourheartout

Here's some more info from the League of Humane Voters of New York City:

LOHV-NYC teams up with local politicians to save vegan bakery

Pictures from 2/3/07 rally

Stay tuned for campaign updates at www.humanenyc.org or call (212) 889-0303 for more information.

kate c.

Three cheers to Billy and all of these folks. They're standing up for community. And there's something wrong when decades-old businesses get forced out because the landlord wants to triple the rent. It's happened over and over and over. Do you want to live in a neighborhood with only chain stores? Maybe it's "whatev" to you, whatev, but there are people who care about the face of their community, and I'm glad they're doing what's in their power to do. And for what it's worth, I've loved that bakery since I moved to New York. I really hope it makes it.

blank

it's called freedom of speech and assembly. now shut the fuck up, whatev.

whatev

um it's called capitalism folks...now move along.

nick

since when does a business not being able to pay its rent justify a protest?

dhex

i don't patronize starbucks (dunkin donuts is going to dismantle them in the city anyway, mark my words...) but if someone followed reverend billy around with a loudspeaker interrupting every public and private event he put on, a restraining order would be a reasonable measure on his part.

i know i know the work of the lord, ends justify the means, blah blah blah blah blah, etc. but still.