On January 19th, about 30-50 people mingled around outside Modesto’s cold downtown area to listen to various anarcho-folk singers, eat hot soup, and also pick up free copies of magazines and pamphlets. Various performers played, including Rien from Sonora, Kenneth Sime from Modesto, Cody from the bay area, and Starla, who came all the way from Canada.

Anarchist Caf(c) turns Into Anti-Dumpster Diving Ban Protest Outside of Police Station

By Potato X

On January 19th, about 30-50 people mingled around outside Modesto’s cold downtown area to listen to various anarcho-folk singers, eat hot soup, and also pick up free copies of magazines and pamphlets. Various performers played, including Rien from Sonora, Kenneth Sime from Modesto, Cody from the bay area, and Starla, who came all the way from Canada.

Realizing that we were in the middle of another (daily) continued assault on regular folks in the area with the newly proposed (and now passed) dumpster diving ban (which would make dumpster diving a misdemeanor, get you up to a $500 fine, and also would land a person up to 6 months in jail) someone brought a large banner that read “Trash the Rich: Fight the Dumpster dive Ban.” Some within the group took it upon themselves to march around downtown after the local security took down the banner from a metal barricade. Then the police showed up and said it was time for their regular downtown meeting at the newly installed pig station and the group had to move from where it was located right in front of its doors. Police have installed a new sub-police station to better coordinate their hold over the downtown area, which is apparent in the lack of any youth in the area. As one person commented, “Why do you think no one is down here.” Police are also getting a brand new surveillance system which will cost around $400,000 (hence the logic of further criminalization and more tickets).

Seizing the opportunity, a crew of people grabbed the banner and began to protest outside of police station and booed the pigs as they went into the building. Police mostly laughed, tried to avoid the protestors and took pictures. One or two cops even said how stupid they thought the law was and said “Go ahead, dumpster dive, I won’t stop you.” (dissent within the ranks!) A large crowd gathered including several homeless people and a loud arguing match broke out between a man who said he was the owner of a dumpster company. He said that buy eating thrown away food people were actually “stealing from him” and that it hurt his lively hood. Homeless people arguing with the owner of a dumpster company – this has to be a Crimethinc golden moment! By the end of the night the police left the area in their various cars and people actually started to congregate around and talk with each other. At this time we may not have the power to shut down the structures of power which toy with our lives – but at least we can still come together, talk, organize, and prepare for tomorrow!

Wonder if they got a copy of Modesto Anarcho?