Come join us for a night of rockin' resistance against police brutality. This benefit event is to raise funds for legal fees for James Messer, an activist with Canvass For a Cause, who experienced assault by an San Diego Sheriff's officer back in September while canvassing for LGBTQ rights in San Diego North County. This assault and discrimination was based upon James' perceived sexual orientation by the officer. This officer abused his authority and displayed homophobic behavior during this enc...
Come join us for a night of rockin' resistance against police brutality. This benefit event is to raise funds for legal fees for James Messer, an activist with Canvass For a Cause, who experienced assault by an San Diego Sheriff's officer back in September while canvassing for LGBTQ rights in San Diego North County. This assault and discrimination was based upon James' perceived sexual orientation by the officer. This officer abused his authority and displayed homophobic behavior during this encounter in addition to physically assaulting and belittling James. The funds raised from this event will go toward filing fees to ensure that this officer is held accountable for his unacceptable behavior.
The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of police brutality in the broader LGBTQ community. San Diego's conservative gay community generally thinks of law enforcement as our friends and our protectors. This is farther from the truth. Police brutality in the LGBTQ community happens often and is often unreported.
If James is successful with the court honoring the suit and complaint, they have every intention of putting the funds acquired, beyond personal damages, back into relevant projects and local coalitions that pertain to police brutality in the queer community. Among these are Committee Against Police Brutality- San Diego and Black and Pink - San Diego.
**Hosting Organizations**
The Committee Against Police Brutality-San Diego works for systemic change in law enforcement agencies and advocating for victims of excessive force or police misconduct. We concentrate our efforts in the San Diego County and the collective’s work includes: informing people of their rights, lending support to victims of police brutality by helping them file complaints in the police ethics system and dealing with wrongful accusations. We as the committee also denounce the harassment, violence, intimidation, arrests and abuse of power by police.
Black & Pink is an open family of LGBTQ prisoners and “free world” allies who support each other. Our work toward the abolition of the prison industrial complex is rooted in the experience of currently and formerly incarcerated people. We are outraged by the specific violence of the prison industrial complex against LGBTQ people, and respond through advocacy, education, direct service, and organizing.
Canvass for a Cause is a 501(c)4 non-profit that builds support for the radical movement at the local, grassroots level. Our staff of trained activists are out on the streets every day, mobilizing the San Diego community and changing hearts and minds. We have worked on projects ranging from banning “pray the gay away” therapy to protesting police brutality.
**About the Bands**
Candy Warpop is a nihilistic storm of art punk and dark psychedelia. Incubated under the debauched neon of Las Vegas, this audacious quartet (Amy Pate on Vocals/Guitar :: Anisa Marie on Drums :: Joshua Chévere Cohen on Guitar :: Jonas Woolverton on Bass) is unrestrained by conventional musical standards. The raw flow of eccentric creation and kaleidoscopic illustration creates a sonic balancing act on the razor’s edge between beauty and destruction, euphony and dissonance, love and chaos.
Pale Antique is Baroque Pop/Ambient/Experimental music performed solo by Joshua Chévere Cohen.
**About the Venue**
Kava Lounge
Welcome to a warm and beautifully diverse nightlife experience. Making a conscious effort in promoting cultural unity through music, art, and dance. This is your playground. A nightlife experience that supports the organic movement and our local economy. Future planetary life. The Kava Lounge is the space, now is the time.
We will be having more local bands and guest speakers. These bands and speakers are soon to be announced. This venue is 21+ since alcohol is served. $10.00 suggested donation. No one will be turned away.
