bookmark_borderNative American Harvest Festival

Native American Harvest Festival
October 15 – October 16
Oct 15 at 10 AM to Oct 16 at 6 PM
at Hibernia Park
1 Park Rd, Coatesville, Pennsylvania 19320

Gates open at 10 AM each day and close at 6 PM
$5 Parking fee (per car)
Dogs OK
FREE camping for dancers, staff and vendors in field

Host Drums: Otter Creek Singers
Guest Drums: White Buffalo
MC: Barry Lee
Head Male Dancer: Matt White Eagle
Head Female Dancer: Chris Mourning Dove
Head Veteran: John Ironhorse
Arena Director: Josh Emlet
Firekeepers: Ken Casal

Special Performances by Spirit Wing and the Aztec Dance Crew, Cenzontle Cuicatl

More American Indians / Native Americans / Indigenous People

bookmark_borderWest Chester “Street Performing” Law

by Daniel Brouse

WEST CHESTER, PA — On August 2, a public hearing was held at the West Chester Borough Hall. The hearing was intended to be for the proposed “Busking Ordinance“; however, just hours before the meeting, the Busking Ordinance was thrown out and a new proposed “Street Performing” ordinance appeared on the borough website. The new ordinance changed “reading” to “reading aloud” and removed sidewalk chalk art. The borough’s attorney said chalk art was removed because a 2-year-old drawing dinosaurs could be found in violation.

Street Performing– Includes, but is not limited to, the following activities: acting, singing, playing musical instruments, pantomime, juggling, magic, dancing, reading aloud, puppetry and reciting.

Boycott-Malena's, West Chester, Gay Church
Boycott-Malena’s, West Chester, Gay Church

A large crowd of citizens opposed to any ordinance that would restrict the First Amendment filled council chambers. There appeared to be only one person in attendance that supported the proposed ordinance, Malena Martinez. Martinez, owner of the business “Malena’s” at the corner of Gay and Church Streets, said she finds the performances to be annoying.

Contrary to Malena’s opinion were a wide array of artists and fans of the arts. A borough resident presented a petitions with pages of unsolicited signatures of people against any ordinance that would regulate the arts. The signatures were collected at the corner of Gay and Church Streets and included world-class musicians, politicians and supporters of the arts. “We love hearing you play,” was a common comment made by the signatories. One petitioner said he takes a day-trip just to come to the businesses in West Chester because of the street performers.

“It’s an attack on free speech and First Amendment rights in many respects,” said Oliver Kocher, a borough musician. “To try to stifle other people simply because you don’t like what they have to say really isn’t appropriate. People are out there promoting art and promoting culture and it seems to me this is a direct attempt to stifle the display and dispersion of people’s art.” Oliver went on to say, “I am a whistler. Sometimes I don’t even know that I’m whistling when I walk down the street. Under the ordinance, I might be found in violation.”

Tom Wagner, one of the area’s finest lawyers and musicians, explained how the ordinance would be in violation of the Constitution. Any such ordinance would result in an injunction and lengthy court battle for the borough.

Resident Phil LaRue pointed out that there are already enough laws on the books to accomplish the goals of the proposed ordinance.

Several others in attendance also voiced their disapproval of the ordinance. In fact, there were so many people that wanted to speak out against the ordinance that another public hearing was scheduled. None of the council members in attendance appeared to be in favor of the ordinance, so the hearing was postponed until September 21 at 6PM.

bookmark_borderWest Chester to Ban Singing and Dancing

The West Chester “Footloose” Ordinance
by Daniel Brouse
#WestChesterFootloose

WEST CHESTER, PA — The Borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania is attempting to pass an ordinance that would outlaw singing, dancing, acting, reading, juggling, magic, mimes and more. Unlike some “busking ordinances”, this ordinance will criminalize these activities for every person.

For instance, if you allow a 5-year-old to color with chalk on the sidewalk without a license, you both will be breaking the law. If you obtain a license to perform music and kids start dancing, they will be breaking the law. If you write music without a license and kids start dancing, you all will be breaking the law. Should you and your friends attend a peace rally or sporting event and sing the “Star Spangled Banner”, you will be breaking the law. If you read the First Amendment, you will be breaking the law. For that matter, if you read the busking ordinance, you will be breaking the law.

There is a public hearing:
Tuesday July 26, 2016 at 6PM
West Chester Borough Hall
401 East Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19380

Contact Borough of West Chester: email info@west-chester.com

Those interested in more information, please contact us below:

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More Info. at KingArthur.com