THE ANKLE BITER: FREEDOM RALLY

Mind, Body & Spirit – Defeat the Mandates Rally at Grand Park Exposes Truth Behind Humanity

Downtown Weekly stood among the many during the Defeat the Mandates rally held on April 10th at Grand Park.

The same rally that has been the spark of ridicule for hosting what the authoritarians and mainstream media deemed as a group of white Trumpsupporting racists; demented rebels bent on overthrowing the capital and spreading the Corona Virus.

But was that the case? Perhaps, if what the authorities had been telling us these past two years was authentic. However, as we witnessed children in wheelchairs suffering from vaccine injuries from shots continuously labeled as “safe and effective,” it was understandable how parents and children of all political parties and races would be interested in a rally such as this.

And for the racists who supposedly converged on our city with messages of hate… well, organizer and master of ceremonies, a black man by the name of Kevin Jenkins, often called for group hugs among the massive mixed race crowd that no one, we saw, had any problem with.

Instead of a country racially divided, we witnessed people of every ethnicity, age and religion hugging, crying, consoling each other, cheering, and coming together in an honest attempt to override whatever beliefs had kept them from doing so before this moment. Proof of this reached its pinnacle as a tall, young black man dressed in a black suit with a red bow tie named Rizza Islam took the stage. “I am here representing the honorable Louis Farrakhan”, he spoke proudly. And for a moment, the entire crowd was almost silent.

Bro. Rizza islam

Surely a crowd of perceived racists wouldn’t lend this gentleman a nondiscriminatory ear, right?

But, on the contrary. As Rizza Islam continued his charismatic message of freedom, love and self-dignity his message transcended the mind and body of the crowd reaching the very soul of it. By the end of his speech, the crowd was cheering Rizza Islam with all their might.

A similar reaction by the crowd was given to quirky Rabbi Michael Barclay, who ended his speech with a prayer in Hebrew. The same response for a little girl activist who suggested we stop wasting time and get out there and fight for freedom.

The same reaction for the tearful parents who spoke of losing their children to a so-called “trusted vaccine.” Often the words “we love you” could be heard as sympathizers called out from the crowd. As for the victims of Covid, empathy and anger, especially from a panel of doctors on the stage condemned for speaking out, insisting authorities were to blame for many of Covid deaths by limiting their ability to offer alternative treatments at the early stages of the pandemic.

They cited threats from governing bodies and social media censorship tactics bent on erasing laws that established a patient’s rights to conformed consent. They condemned messages and tactics that coerced doctors, patients and media viewers to rely on experimental drugs and mandated treatments. Kevin Jenkins

They assured the crowd that Covid death and hospitalization could be prevented with early treatment and reaffirmed their commitment had always been to save lives.

Guest Speaker Robert Malone, creator and basically the Colonel Sanders of mRNA technology, took the stage to speak, confirming singer songwriter, Jimmy Levy’s message that this was “a war on religion and children”, followed by statements explaining that the current vaccine was outdated and no longer warranted because it had little effect on the newest Omicron mutation of the virus. Continued on page...14

JOIN US FOR "TEA" AT HERO THEATER

Hero Theatre invites audiences to envision and experience America as they do while examining classical and contemporary works, ensuring that equity, diversity and inclusion remain in the forefront.

THIS MONTH, Hero Theater presents a revival of Tea, Velina Hasu Houston’s powerful, lyrical exploration of the immigrant experience that has become a modern classic in its nearly four-decade history of production. Hero Theatre resident director Rebecca Wear helms a fully double-cast company for a Saturday, April 23 opening at the Rosenthal Theatre at Downtown L.A.’s Inner-City Arts, where performances will continue through May 15.

Two all Asian female ensembles tell the story of five Japanese immigrants in this deeply moving, yet humorous and surprising play that illuminates a littleknown chapter in American history. The two companies include Elaine Ackles, Olivia Cordell, Hiroko Imai, Tomoko Karina and Hua Lee, and Yukari Black, Alix Yumi Cho, Ariel Kayoko Labasan, Sayaka Miyatani and Bolor Saruul. Imai and Black share the role of kindly Setsuko Banks, whose African American husband recently passed away. Lee and Saruul double as snooty Atsuko Yamamoto, who feels she is “above” the others because her husband is Japanese American. Ackles and Labasan portray the assimilated Chizuye Juarez, who loves coffee and is known as “Chiz” to her friends (much to the chagrin of Atsuko, who thinks the nickname sounds like “Cheese”). Cordell and Cho play Teruko MacKernzie, married to a White man. And Tomoko Karina and Sayaka Miyatani take on the role of tragic Himiko Hamilton.

Tea is rooted in Houston's own experiences growing up in Kansas as the daughter of a Japanese mother and half African American/half Native American father who met during the American occupation of Japan.

“I am honored to be a daughter of a Japanese woman who sacrificed so much so that her children could be of two nations in the deepest, most profound ways,” wrote Houston in a blog post. “It is a legacy that, all my life, I have striven to live up to and to pass on to my children.”

The Hero creative team includes set designer Carlo Maghirang, lighting designer Azra King-Abadi and music and sound designer Dan Harada. The costume designer is Maggie Dick and associate costume designer is Marvin Hildago. Audrey Forman is assistant director. The stage manager is Ashley Weaver. Hero Theatre resident artist Gabe Figueroa produces for the company.

Performances of Tea take place at 720 Kohler Street at the Rosenthal Theater of Inner City Arts in Downtown L.A. (just south of the Arts District). @innercityarts

FORGET YOUR TROUBLES

Take a trip back to the 1930s in the delightful revival of Pearl Cleage’s rich and beautiful work “Blues for an Alabama Sky” now on stage at Mark Taper Forum.

Directed by Tony Award-winning actor Phylicia Rashad, this production features Joe Holt, Nija Okoro, Dennis Pearson, Greg Alverez Reid and Kim Steele and continues through May 8.

The play sets itsself in 1930s Harlem. As the main characters share their ambitions along with comedic affirmations centered around their personal trials and tribulations, giving the audience every opportunity to laugh.

Angel is a free-spirited Cotton Club singer who’s out of luck but never out of dreams. Guy is a costume designer waiting for Josephine Baker to invite him to join her in Paris. Delia, a young activist, is trying to give the women of Harlem a choice about their future. Sam, a prominent physician, is either delivering babies or out at the club letting the good times roll. And Leland, who recently arrived in Harlem from Alabama, is haunted by the wide-open skies and lost love he left behind.

Blues for an Alabama Sky combines passion and politics within art in a celebration of the Harlem Renaissance amidst the harsh realities of the Great Depression.

Tickets for “Blues for an Alabama Sky” are currently on sale at Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum and start at $30. @musiccenterla