THE MILLION MERMAID MARCH @
THE 2002 CONEY ISLAND MERMAID PARADE
Saturday June 22, 2002
Here, some pictures from our MILLION MERMAID MARCH in late June at the
2002 Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Legalize Dancing NYC (LDNYC) and the Dance
Liberation Front (DLF) joined forces to publicize their fight against NYC's Cabaret Law.
The two groups sponsored a "Million Mermaid March" float and invited
Mermaids (and other aquatic and land lifeforms) to march in
solidarity in the fight to deregulate dancing in New York City. Reports of the
day are coming soon, and the full press release is just past the pics.
Top photo by Grzegorz Niczke, all others by Andy Gensler.
ANINVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE "MILLION MERMAID MARCH" IN THE 2002
CONEY ISLAND MERMAID PARADE IN SUPPORT OF LEGALIZING DANCING IN NYC.
June 13, 2002, New York, NY -- Legalize Dancing NYC (LDNYC) and the Dance
Liberation Front (DLF) are joining forces to fight NYC's Cabaret Law in the
2002 Coney Island Mermaid Parade. We're extending aninvitation to all
New Yorkers to join the fight for our right to dance!
The two groups are sponsoring a "Million Mermaid March" float and inviting
Mermaids (and other aquatic and land lifeforms) to march with us in
solidarity in the fight to deregulate dancing in New York City.
You too can join the "Million Mermaid March" float. We'll be gathering at
West 16th Street & Surf Ave. in Coney Island between 10am and 1pm on
Saturday, June 22, where we will be decorating vehicles and ourselves. The
Mermaid Parade commences at 2pm. We are also encouraging everyone to bring
percussion instruments and/or whistles.
While it sounds like a joke, the NYC Cabaret Law is very real and has for
the last several years adversely affected our city's economy, culture and
community. These antiquated statutes were written during prohibition in the
1920s and state that it is illegal for "3 or more people to move in a
synchronized fashion" in any establishment without a cabaret license--which
is virtually impossible to obtain today. The Giuliani administration
resurrected the cabaret laws in the late 90s, selectively enforcing them
and causing hundreds of establishments undue economic hardship while also
stifling NYC's cultural and communal vibrancy.
We assert that dancing is a fundamental right that need not be regulated by
government; that a flourishing dance culture is good for the NYC economy and
culture; and that dancing fosters positive social relations making for a
stronger and healthier community. Our group supports safety codes, capacity
limits, noise statutes, drug and alcohol laws, and any other regulations
besides dancing restrictions that are in the best interests of the NYC
community.
Legalize Dancing NYC is currently working with City Councilman Alan Gerson,
other pro-dance organizations (DLF, Yehoodi!, Mothernyc, etc.), the New York
Nightlife Association, civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel, NYU Law Professor
Paul Chevigny, the Bloomberg adminstration, local business owners, and the
NYC community at large to introduce pro-dance legislation to the New York
City Council. With your support, we believe these laws will inevitably be
repealed or amended. We are planning a massive rally in Tompkins Square Park
for late September to coincide with the legislation. We are also planning a
fundraiser for July 17th at the Slipper Room in Manhattan, as well as other
summer events to keep an eye out for.
GET INVOLVED!
To join Legalize Dancing NYC's discussion group and find out what's going on
with the fight, send a blank email to:
