Bash Back! News

On Saturday, June 20th, Nike hosted a pride event to shame all others.
Complete with HRC floats, “progressive” politicians, overpriced
concessions, corporate advertising, army recruiters (?!?), police, and
speakers calling to send even more folks into the prison industrial
complex with hate crime legislation, Memphis Pride provided us with a
glimpse of the dreadfully dull world we would live in if the mainstream
gay and lesbian “movement” had its way.

Luckily, BB! Memphis was there to remind folks that a queer community
exists that isn’t funded by Budweiser, that doesn’t settle for politicians
empty promises, & doesn’t treat the BTQ it LGBTQ as an afterthought.

Friday June 19th
-BB! lines Cooper Street with anti-police and anti-Nike fliers, even
flyering around the Cooper-Young police substation.

Saturday June 20th
-BB! drops a banner near the assembly point for parade goers and the Nike
float, which reads “Labor, Just Exploit It” in response to this years
theme “OUR RIGHTS ARE CIVIL RIGHTS” and the choice to allow Nike to become
the major sponsor. Some folks cheer while others look on, confused what
racism & sweatshops have to do with rich white gay civil rights.

-BB! file in behind MAGY (Memphis Area Gay Youth) and HRC, and eventually
form a breakaway group. Carrying a banner that reads “FABULOUSLY FIERCE”,
a boom box, and signs commemorating murdered transwomen, they begin
militantly chanting which riles up the crowd.

-When the BB! marchers approach the Cooper-Young railroad trestle, a
giant banner it dropped over the trestle by BB! operatives which reads
“THE MPD KILLED DUANNA JOHNSON! END RACISM & TRANSPHOBIA, BASH BACK!”

-When the banner is dropped BB! marchers play “Fuck the Police” on the
boom box and a dance party under the railroad trestle ensues. The march
stops, police look bewildered, and other folks start cheering and joining
in.

-BB! reunites at Peabody Park where the festival is being held and begins
passing out queer counter-recruitment literature (thanks BB! Denver!) in
front of the Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell folks.

-BB! confronts Michigan Womyns Festival who is tabling at Memphis Pride
and call them out on their transphobia.

-A BB! operative interrupts Congressman Steve Cohen while he is on stage
saying he supported ENDA, calling him “Transphobic Liberal Scum”. Some
folks cheer on the protester, some transphobic folks boo them.