you're definining what the community. look, it's not that you're having your street party. it's that you're doing it in the name of something - which you're using for credibility. because "our communities" sounds a lot better than "activists having a street party".
Right well, this was nearly 15 years ago in another country, you don't know what my relationship to it is or was.
That said I think it's obvious, if it was framed that way at all by the rts people at the time, that community means all the people that live somewhere, perhaps specifically in that context
people as opposed to heavy traffic passing through. But I don't even think those actions were intended to be justified or sanctioned on those terms. Take it up with them if you like.
But while we're on it I don't think people would have had a problem talking about 'activists having a party' either, except that I don't recall that many 'activists' as distinct from 'people'. Just like people weren't especially trying to be cool, well no more than is usual. That's actually one thing that made them good events, they were very unpretentious really.
padraig (u.s.) said:
I've been to plenty of real community festivals of the type John's described, they have almost naught to do with RTS-style business. they're usually a much better time. for one, no one's worried about being cool.
Oh jolly good for you.
It's not like these things are mutually exclusive or indeed haven't fed into each other though. Actually I can tell you that at the time of the aforementioned reclaim the streets stuff, which was one approach among many, some excellent local festivals in London (Debtford Urban Free, Clissold Park, Clays Lane, no doubt tons I wasn't aware of) were being organised with the involvement of many of those same people who happened to have energy, enthusiasm and resources. Yeah those same pain in the arse arrogant 'activists'.