R.Y.A.N. Theatre Group performs

The Rochester Youth Action Network has a theatre group ... this is the story of their debut performance.

The Rochester Youth Action Network (RYAN) Theatre Group performed
last night at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church. A large number
of local activists had gathered for the sixth annual International Human
Rights Day vigil and panel discussion.

The theme of this year's presentation was Are They Coming
For YOU?! What does the "USA Patriot Act" mean for you & your
organization? and the theatre group began with a skit enacting
Martin Niemoeller's famous poem.

First they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niem�ller

This was well-recieved by the group assembled, as were all of the skits
presented last night by the members of RYAN. They went on to dramatically
illustrate the various problems inherent in the so-called USA-Patriot
Acts (I and II), including demonstrations of potential White House press
conferences, gathering of DNA samples for the government during routine
physical examinations by private physicians, and others.

Michael Freeman and Kelly Miller, the co-founders of RYAN, were
present and introduced the various other members of the RYAN Theatre
Group. Afterward, many stated how impressed they were both with the
group itself and with the hope that they had, seeing the youth involved
in getting this message out to another generation of future activists.

Each year since the 50th anniversary of the passage of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1998,
the Rochester Alliance for Democracy has organized a candlelight vigil
reading of the Declaration, a potluck supper, and a panel discussion
highlighting one or more of the principles enshrined in that document.
The RYAN presentation was held following a performance by the Rochester
Raging Grannies and prior to the keynote speaker (Thomas Tobin, Deputy
Editorial Page Editor for the Democrat and Chronicle) and discussion.
The evening then closed with a video prepared by Rochester IndyMedia
with interviews and footage of the recent protests against the FTAA and
police repression in Miami.

The RYAN performance fit in well with the evening's activities and
(in my opinion) they are a positive addition to the local activist community.
They are not content merely to rest upon their laurels however.
This event is hardly finished, and they are already meeting later
this week to prepare for their next endeavor. They will be introducing
the "Wise Up" CD Project (Tracks With Facts to a beat) and are
currently looking for speakers, musicians, organizers and others to
collaborate on this youth outreach project. I have a feeling we will
be hearing more about RYAN in the future.

RYAN can be contacted at rochyouth@email.com.