Events / SILENT Funeral Procession for the Oakland Public Library--at ART MURMUR

June 3rd, 2011 @ 6:30pm to 9:30am

20th and Broadway, Oakland, CA

1/unlimited

$c4ngel@++

On Thursday, May 26, Oakland's City Council listened to over 80 speakers ask them to keep Oakland's libraries open, then responded by saying they have no choice but to adopt some version of Scenario A.* This would be the death of Oakland library services, the death of free information in Oakland, the death of our city's largest, most equitable free resource.

The buildings would be closed, silent tombs. The books inside would be closed and silent.

And so we invite you to a SILENT funeral procession for the Oakland Public Library on Friday, June 3, starting at 7pm at 20th and Broadway. We will walk up Broadway, make our way through the Art Murmur crowds on 23rd St., proceed up Telegraph, then loop around on 26th and 25th and back to Telegraph for closing remarks. Everyone involved should be dressed in black, holding a library book, and marching in complete silence. We will be carrying a coffin.

Here's what to do:

--Show up at 20th and Broadway in head-to-toe black on Friday, June 3, at 7pm. Look somber. Bring a library book if you can. We will have signs, a coffin, and flyers to distribute.

--When the drum begins a slow, mourning beat, we will begin to march. STAY COMPLETELY SILENT. A large, silent group moving slowly as one will grab the attention of Art Murmur attendees.

--Pass out flyers. SOL will have flyers there for you to distribute.

--We will need a few people to be pallbearers. The coffin will be lighter than a real coffin, but still have some heft to it. Please state in your rsvp if you would like to take on this auspicious task!

--When the march is complete, we'll have a chance for people to share what they loved about the library.

This is sad, yes. Think how much sadder it will be if Oakland's library system goes from great to dismal. Think how sad it will be when people who can't afford to buy books will just... no longer have books.

This is a dire situation. Please come out and march with us.


LATE-BREAKING NEWS: if you're anything like me, when a funeral ends, you're ready to PARTY. A group of activists is having a mobile street party to protest budget cuts that will be rolling on by right as our funeral is winding down. Join in if the spirit moves you!

*Scenario A will close 14 branches (including AAMLO and the Tool Lending Library), end Second Start Adult Literacy, and leave only four locations which would be open three days a week with 3-5 staff. At Main, the Oakland History Room, Children's Room, and Teen Zone would close.

More info at Save Oakland Public Libraries. There's also a Facebook page.