Posted by C Bratcher on 9/25/2004, 2:57 pm C Bratcher
148.78.245.13
I think it's disgraceful that the OzFest organizers in Chesterton, Indiana threatened munchkins Jerry Maren and Mickey Carroll with arrest if they tried to participate in the events. The behavior of those people are more like somebody who wants to destroy the OzFest, rather than promote it. Last year, a kid was playing his guitar in the park and left his guitar case open for people to toss change into during the festival. The organizers told him to cease and desist and that he had to rent a booth if he wanted to continue.
Two years ago, my 10 year old daughter was selling little tinman hats hanging from a broomstick she was carrying through the street for a dollar. A chamber of commerce official called the police over and they told her if she didn't stop, she would be arrested.
This year, some teens were having fun playing percussion music with sticks entertaining the crowd. Officials told them they had to stop- even though they were doing it for free.
Earlier this year, bickering took place between the town and OzFest officials which almost caused the festival to be shutdown. The reason? The town cited "security" reasons, which is absurd because most of the time of the police is spent telling kids they can't ride their skateboards or bikes. The OzFest officials complaint was mainly that they didn't make enough money, and "side events" outside their control were becoming common. Officials even looked around to find an alternative site, but came up with nothing. It probably won't be long before the whole thing is shuut down. All because of greed and small town politics. What a shame.
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