Dear friends,
Some of us survived this most recent Mardi Gras with a few more bruises and burn marks than usual, and we're writing in hopes you can help.
For the past six years, the Krewe of Eris parade has been a celebration of do-it-yourself creative jubilation, an occasion for elaborate costumes and homemade floats, and a positive, exciting old-time street parade in the same neighborhoods where we live and work the rest of the year. As a recent letter to the editor of the Times-Picayune said, “Eris is a community parade that honors the best traditions of Mardi Gras. There are no fees, no membership or leadership; all are encouraged to make a costume, bring a musical instrument and actively engage in creating the revelry of Carnival instead of passively consuming it as a spectator.”
Though it is just one bright star among many in the dazzling firmament of Carnival Season, the sights, sounds, and moments Eris creates often stick with us long after. Alas, as you are likely aware, Eris 2011 was memorable for some very unfortunate reasons. We were attacked by the Fifth District NOPD, beaten, pepper-sprayed, tazed, and arrested, including several members of the Eris marching band. One arrestee was so brutally beaten he suffered a broken cheekbone and staples in his skull. This could have been any of us.
None of the arrestees went to Eris looking for trouble. Many of us are longtime residents of New Orleans, homeowners, and members of the city's downtown arts community. We are professional musicians, artists, trades people and schoolteachers. Eris was not and never has been a protest march, riot, or political movement. As the countless brave witnesses who have stepped forward agree, it was simply a big, happy, weird parade. If a few bad apples took the parade as an opportunity for hooliganism, we deplore that, but nothing justifies the rabid NOPD attacks on innocent parade participants.
In the wake of the attack on Eris, the New Orleans Independent Police Monitor reported being "slammed with calls and e-mails" about police misconduct during the parade, and an investigation is underway. If you've seen the videos, you know a good chunk of the story—terrified revelers being set upon by vicious cops. Of course, NOPD and the Fifth District in particular have already earned reputations that speak for themselves. As the fog of Carnival faded into the relative lucidity of Lent, we began to hear more and more stories of how crazy the cops were this year-- harassing and endangering the Box O' Wine parade, demanding non-existent "entertainer permits" from people walking home in face paint, and of course shutting down the Blue Nile costume sale.
Of course, all of the above is only a faint watery shadow of the much more serious & endemic, often-times fatal atrocities committed by NOPD against communities of color in New Orleans for decades, a systemic evil that has never been adequately addressed. As New Orleanians, we stand in solidarity with all communities and individuals who have suffered from police abuse.
In the here and now, we the Eris arrestees have come together to share legal resources and fight the ridiculous charges NOPD heaped on us to cover up their own mistakes. Regrettably, our otherwise commendable lawyers have refused to accept payment in carnival doubloons, garden tomatoes or spicy anecdote, and have instead requested "money," something many of us are familiar with only second- or third-hand. I know we're all struggling, but surely you can spare a few bucks to spare us going back to jail and having to eat more of those baloney sandwiches? They are very bad indeed.
Our lawyers are being very kind and representing all of us as a group for one generously low fee, but it's still five figures. Most of us will struggle greatly to meet our shares of the cost. We urge you, as supporters of Eris and the New Orleans creative community, to please help us out with a direct donation. Rest assured any of us would do the same.
It sucks that one ugly incident threatens to overshadow the light and meaning of the Eris parade, but all of us together have the power to make sure it doesn't. Let's ensure "Police destroy Eris" will not be the story that comes out of this.
With love and gratitude,
The Eris 12
http://eris12.org/
&&&&&&&&&&
WAYS TO HELP:
Donate money to the Eris Arrestees' Legal Fund
- http://eris12.org/
Attend upcoming benefit shows, and spread awareness by distributing our website via social media
- http://eris12.org/
Keep us out of jail by agreeing to be a witness in court!
- erissolidarity@gmail.com
Report NOPD use of force to the Independent Police Monitor
- http://www.facebook.com/nolaipm .-. 504-681-3217 .-. policemonitor@nolaoig.org
Some of us survived this most recent Mardi Gras with a few more bruises and burn marks than usual, and we're writing in hopes you can help.
For the past six years, the Krewe of Eris parade has been a celebration of do-it-yourself creative jubilation, an occasion for elaborate costumes and homemade floats, and a positive, exciting old-time street parade in the same neighborhoods where we live and work the rest of the year. As a recent letter to the editor of the Times-Picayune said, “Eris is a community parade that honors the best traditions of Mardi Gras. There are no fees, no membership or leadership; all are encouraged to make a costume, bring a musical instrument and actively engage in creating the revelry of Carnival instead of passively consuming it as a spectator.”
Though it is just one bright star among many in the dazzling firmament of Carnival Season, the sights, sounds, and moments Eris creates often stick with us long after. Alas, as you are likely aware, Eris 2011 was memorable for some very unfortunate reasons. We were attacked by the Fifth District NOPD, beaten, pepper-sprayed, tazed, and arrested, including several members of the Eris marching band. One arrestee was so brutally beaten he suffered a broken cheekbone and staples in his skull. This could have been any of us.
None of the arrestees went to Eris looking for trouble. Many of us are longtime residents of New Orleans, homeowners, and members of the city's downtown arts community. We are professional musicians, artists, trades people and schoolteachers. Eris was not and never has been a protest march, riot, or political movement. As the countless brave witnesses who have stepped forward agree, it was simply a big, happy, weird parade. If a few bad apples took the parade as an opportunity for hooliganism, we deplore that, but nothing justifies the rabid NOPD attacks on innocent parade participants.
In the wake of the attack on Eris, the New Orleans Independent Police Monitor reported being "slammed with calls and e-mails" about police misconduct during the parade, and an investigation is underway. If you've seen the videos, you know a good chunk of the story—terrified revelers being set upon by vicious cops. Of course, NOPD and the Fifth District in particular have already earned reputations that speak for themselves. As the fog of Carnival faded into the relative lucidity of Lent, we began to hear more and more stories of how crazy the cops were this year-- harassing and endangering the Box O' Wine parade, demanding non-existent "entertainer permits" from people walking home in face paint, and of course shutting down the Blue Nile costume sale.
Of course, all of the above is only a faint watery shadow of the much more serious & endemic, often-times fatal atrocities committed by NOPD against communities of color in New Orleans for decades, a systemic evil that has never been adequately addressed. As New Orleanians, we stand in solidarity with all communities and individuals who have suffered from police abuse.
In the here and now, we the Eris arrestees have come together to share legal resources and fight the ridiculous charges NOPD heaped on us to cover up their own mistakes. Regrettably, our otherwise commendable lawyers have refused to accept payment in carnival doubloons, garden tomatoes or spicy anecdote, and have instead requested "money," something many of us are familiar with only second- or third-hand. I know we're all struggling, but surely you can spare a few bucks to spare us going back to jail and having to eat more of those baloney sandwiches? They are very bad indeed.
Our lawyers are being very kind and representing all of us as a group for one generously low fee, but it's still five figures. Most of us will struggle greatly to meet our shares of the cost. We urge you, as supporters of Eris and the New Orleans creative community, to please help us out with a direct donation. Rest assured any of us would do the same.
It sucks that one ugly incident threatens to overshadow the light and meaning of the Eris parade, but all of us together have the power to make sure it doesn't. Let's ensure "Police destroy Eris" will not be the story that comes out of this.
With love and gratitude,
The Eris 12
http://eris12.org/
&&&&&&&&&&
WAYS TO HELP:
Donate money to the Eris Arrestees' Legal Fund
- http://eris12.org/
Attend upcoming benefit shows, and spread awareness by distributing our website via social media
- http://eris12.org/
Keep us out of jail by agreeing to be a witness in court!
- erissolidarity@gmail.com
Report NOPD use of force to the Independent Police Monitor
- http://www.facebook.com/nolaipm .-. 504-681-3217 .-. policemonitor@nolaoig.org
