Title
Punker Activists
Subject
Positive Force
Description
This piece describes the infrastructure and operations of Positive Force. It also describes what kind of social activism the organization partook in - ranging from donating money made at benefits to non-profits from the Free Tibet movement to domestic-violence shelters. It also describes the protests it rallied - "Punk Percussion Protests" at the Capital.
Creator
Todd Mason
Source
The Progressive
Publisher
Progressive Incorporated
Date
July 1997
Contributor
[no text]
Rights
Copyright Progressive Incorporated Jul 1997
Relation
[no text]
Format
[no text]
Language
[no text]
Type
Article
Identifier
[no text]
Coverage
[no text]
Original Format
[no text]
Text
Since 1985, Positive Force has been at the heart of the punk subculture of Washington, D.C. These punkers, drawn by the music's angry, political energy, meet weekly to plan concerts and to decide how to distribute the money they raise. The organization has sponsored more than 100 shows.
These shows are noteworthy for their low ticket prices and consistent all-ages admission policy. Each concert is also a benefit for organizations ranging from the Free Tibet movement to domestic-violence shelters. Literature tables at each event offer suggestions for activism.
Positive Force has also thrown concerts to pay for the city permits necessary for an annual series of free summer festivals on and around Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.
The shows themselves have been adventurously political, occasionally mixing punk with rap and the city's indigenous go-go music They also reflect punk's internationalism with the likes of Britain's Citizen Fish, Holland's the Ex, and the Basque nationalist bard Negu Gorriak.
Positive Force D.C. puts on Punk Percussion Protests ("bring something to make noise with") at the Capitol. Some members also work the overnight desk at the Community for Creative Nonviolence's shelter for the homeless, assist Emmaus food-distribution services to elderly clients, and do outreach for Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive. "We want to make sure we're not just talking about change," says Mark Anderson, a cofounder of Positive Force. For more information, call Positive Force D.C. at (703) 276-9768, or write 3510 N. 8th Street, Arlington, VA 22201.
-TODD MASON
These shows are noteworthy for their low ticket prices and consistent all-ages admission policy. Each concert is also a benefit for organizations ranging from the Free Tibet movement to domestic-violence shelters. Literature tables at each event offer suggestions for activism.
Positive Force has also thrown concerts to pay for the city permits necessary for an annual series of free summer festivals on and around Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.
The shows themselves have been adventurously political, occasionally mixing punk with rap and the city's indigenous go-go music They also reflect punk's internationalism with the likes of Britain's Citizen Fish, Holland's the Ex, and the Basque nationalist bard Negu Gorriak.
Positive Force D.C. puts on Punk Percussion Protests ("bring something to make noise with") at the Capitol. Some members also work the overnight desk at the Community for Creative Nonviolence's shelter for the homeless, assist Emmaus food-distribution services to elderly clients, and do outreach for Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive. "We want to make sure we're not just talking about change," says Mark Anderson, a cofounder of Positive Force. For more information, call Positive Force D.C. at (703) 276-9768, or write 3510 N. 8th Street, Arlington, VA 22201.
-TODD MASON