Events for May 5, 2012

Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Voices of freedom

The recently released anthology Occupy SF—poems from the movement is a powerfully diverse, intergenerational collection of poetry and art in the bold spirit of the Occupy movement. Unique and inspiring with a definitive San Francisco flare, the anthology has been garnishing high reviews for its humanistic call for social change. With over 70 poets and artists, including three former San Francisco poet laureates (Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Jack Hirschman, and devorah major), as well as renowned activist poster artists Chuck Sperry, Ron Donovan, and Jon-Paul Bail, the book has powerfully captured the Occupy movement as it evolves and shifts.

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo and freedom for all, contributing poets Francisco X. Alarcón, Rafael Jesús González, Neeli Cherkovski, Virginia Barrett (co-editor), Bobby Coleman (co-editor), Dottie Payne, and Gerardo Pacheco will read selected work from the anthology. Joining them will be special musical guest Gerardo Omar Marin on flute. Copies of the anthology will be available for purchase; all proceeds from sales benefit Occupy. Published by Jambu Press/Studio Saraswati, San Francisco.