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Taken from Spinner (Sep 14, 2009)
Michael Franti Delivers Power and Free Music to the Peaceful
by Benjy Eisen
 When Michael Franti first organized an event in San Francisco called Power to the Peaceful 11 years ago, it was a call to action on behalf of such causes as demanding a retrial for death row inmate Mumia Abu Jamal. In the wake of 9/11, it took on different tones. These days, the festival just serves as a call to action, period. Any action, for any belief. With a mix of yoga, speakers, workshops, information booths and, of course, a full program of music, the event aims to inspire people to become active participants in their local communities.
"I think the only thing that an American needs to share with another American is that we vote," Franti told Spinner directly before his headlining set with Spearhead this weekend. "And if that's all we share, that's fine."
But the largely like-minded audience, which was tens of thousands strong, shared something else as well, something obvious: a love for music. "The great thing about music is that it can cross boundaries," said Franti. "Rich, poor, gay, straight -- everyone deserves music."
And, in these economic times, Spearhead delivered it to the people, for free. It was no small coincidence that, as Franti made a point of noting to Spinner, a little over 30 years ago Chet Helms held the Summer of Love concert in the exact same meadow in Golden Gate Park. As if to bridge the gap between the two cultural events, Woodstock MC, hippie icon and living ice cream flavor Wavy Gravy was seen walking around backstage, dressed head-to-toe in tie-dye, with a plastic fish in tow. Some things never change. Then again, Power to the Peaceful hopes that some things do.
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