Caption: Both images were proposals for logos for the Antifa soccer league

It began with a soccer game three days after the big sweep of Cal Anderson Park.

From Future Crystals:

"PSA JOIN US TODAY @ 2:30 IN CAL ANDERSON FOR A GAME OF ANTIFA SOCCER SINCE IT SEEMS THE PARK IS OPEN TO SOCCER PLAYERS.  WEAR BLOC AND COME READY TO HAVE FUN AND NOT GET RUN OUT OF THE PARK SINCE ONLY PROTESTORS AND HOUSELESS PEOPLE GET RAN OUT OF THE PARK"

SPD showed up and arrested most of the soccer game, knocking one person out in the process, and also arresting a random person who wasn't even involved just because they had black on.  The following Wednesday another game was held in protest.  Things started out small, a dozen or so people, and grew over the next few months, to the point where there were mutual aid tables, people doing banner art, and of course, the shelter house was decorated.

Eventually, the focus shifted from soccer to more mutual aid, with a side of hanging out with comrades.  However, by this point, very few houseless people were showing up, and the vast majority of people partaking of the mutual aid tables were housed people playing various sports.  In addition, there was some unfortunate conflict, and the mutual aid group decided to move their efforts elsewhere with higher concentrations of houseless folks.

There were periodic poetry readings, often in the space between the shelter house and the bathrooms.  Over time, the focal point for the Wednesday gathering shifted there.  Folks started bringing their own food outside of an organized mutual aid group, though many that did, had connections with Food Not Bombs.  Things continued through the spring of 2022, but the gathering was becoming noticeably small.  Fortunately, since then, new life has been breathed into the Wednesday night get-together, and there are even associated events such as Fregan Grocery.

Published 11-7-23