Tag Archives: Terry Bennett

UPDATE: Anti-SodaStream Demo at Cliff’s Variety

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Protesters in front of Cliff's on Dec. 28th, 2012. Photo: Dov Baum

Protesters in front of Cliff’s on Dec. 28th, 2012. Photo: Dov Baum

As we posted on December 26th, a small protest inside Cliff’s Variety Store on Christmas eve around the sale of SodaStream Soda Maker, a carbonating water system  manufactured in the disputed Israeli-occupied territories in the West Bank settlement of Mishor Adumim, turned physical when Cliff’s employees physically ejected demonstrators from the store.

Police arrived on the scene 25 minutes after being called to find a few of the older members of the group bruised and a bit worse for wear. Statements were taken and some of the protestors have filed assault complaints with the SFPD over their treatment at the hands of Cliff’s employees.

Protestor at Cliff's 12/28. Photo: Dov Baum

Protestor at Cliff’s 12/28. Photo: Dov Baum

Store manager and Merchants of Upper Market Castro (MUMC) President, Terry Bennet, countered her staff weren’t trained to deal with these sort of situations and that the protestors hit one of her staff first and in the jostle to remove them knocked into an as yet unidentified customer with a child in a stroller.

On the 28th of December a group of 25 protestors returned to the store-this time remaining outside-for an hour long, peaceful, vigil to outreach to the Castro community at large.

They held a picket and passed out information sheets on the particulars of their position regarding the SodaStream product and why they feel it shouldn’t be sold at Cliff’s. Reaction was mixed with some supporting and other’s vocally taunting the protestors saying they, “got what they deserved” last time.

Many within the Castro have wondered why Cliff’s, a small family owned business and mainstay of the neighborhood, has been targeted when many large, nationwide corporations also stock the protested product? The group have taken their call for a boycott to large box, corporate stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond who stock SodaStream. Videos posted to You Tube show the group engaging in similar protest tactics at Bed, Bath & Beyond they used at Cliff’s on Xmas eve minus the manhandling.

These protests are not just in San Francisco but have been taking place all over the world. SodaStream has been criticized for operating a manufacturing plant on land in the West Bank by the Israeli non-governmental organizations Coalition of Women for Peace and Peace Now, as well as other human rights organizations

Protestors point out they’ve petitioned Cliffs ,via Ms. Bennet, for more than eight months to remove SodaStream and replace it with other similarly priced products that function in the same way and aren’t financially involved or supporting the ongoing political conflict between Israel and Palestine. Ms. Bennet has declined their entreaties. Protestors stated they will continue the campaign at Cliff’s and at any other store until there is diversification.

Community activists ask shoppers not to buy SodaStream product. Photo: Dov Baum

Community activists ask shoppers not to buy SodaStream product. Photo: Dov Baum

SodaStream was founded in 1903, grossed $275.36 million worldwide for the fiscal year of 2011, and is a strong campaigner for eco/green issues with a specialty focus on removing bottle and can waste from land fills. They assert that by using their product a family of four could keep 10,657 cans and bottles out of landfills on average over five years.

 

Understanding and Getting to Know the Merchants of Upper Market Castro (MUMC)

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Merchants of Upper Market Castro (MUMC) held it’s monthly, members only, meeting December 6th. This group of local business owners and managers have a major influence over the direction and tone of life in the Castro since it’s inception and currently enjoys a very intimate working relationship with the current Dist. 8 Supervisor, Scott Wiener.

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MUMC: We will fly the Transgender Flag on Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20th

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After receiving over 1000 signatures on her petition to have MUMC fly the Transgender Flag at Harvey Milk Plaza for Transgender Day of Remembrance, Veronika Fimbres has received approval from MUMC to fly the flag on November 20th. MUMC will also be organizing a committee to reassess their flag policy after the first of the year.

According to Fimbres, an anonymous benefactor is paying for the Castro’s first Transgender Flag which will measure 20′ by 30′.

From Terry Bennett, President of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro

The Board of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro has thoughtfully and thoroughly considered the desire of the Transgender Community to have the Transgender Flag flown on November 20, 2012 in recognition of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The request we originally received was to fly the Transgender Flag in a lowered position. Due to real and serious safety concerns, the request was denied on the basis of the lowered position request. Although, as of today we have not received a revised request, we continued the conversation to consider flying the Transgender Flag at full height. This has been a difficult conversation and emotions run very high in both directions on the issue.

Gilbert Baker, the originator of the Rainbow Flag, created the flag pole with the intent of an oversized 20ft by 30ft Rainbow Flag that would be flown 365 days a year at full mast as a sign of unity and hope for the entire LGBT community. At some point after this, a decision was made to fly the Leather Flag in the week leading up to Folsom Street Fair. In 2001, the originator of the rainbow flag was no longer able to care for the flag, and our beautiful symbol of hope and unity was flying torn and tattered on the flag pole. It was at this time that MUMC stepped forward and offered to be stewards of the flag. The city with Gilbert Baker’s blessing granted MUMC the stewardship. The leaders of MUMC over the last 11 years have worked diligently to make sure we have a beautiful, bright, vibrant flag flying over our community. MUMC has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over this period of time, to insure and maintain the flag pole. In order to keep a bright, colorful flag flying, the flag must be changed out approximately every two months. We have worked to create a partnership with the Castro Street Faire organizers who use some of the gate donations every year to buy 3 to 4 replacement flags. A couple of years ago, when the Bear community was looking at celebrating their last Bear Rendezvous weekend a decision was made to fly the Bear Flag as a way of marking the end of an era. As it turned out the Bear Community revived the Bear Rendezvous in an abbreviated capacity, and as things go you do it once it becomes tradition, it has flown President’s Day weekend the last couple of years. Over the last two years the MUMC Board has been overwhelmed with requests to alter or change the flag. These requests have regularly been accompanied by a great deal of personal attacks, blatant bullying and harassment. Due to these attacks it has made it very difficult to consider any requests. After the first of the year, MUMC will organize a committee to reassess our policy.

During this process of consideration I have consulted with and looked for guidance from several people in the community. I would personally like to thank Supervisor Scott Wiener, Daniel Redman and Don Romesburg for their respectful, heartfelt and open dialogs with me. These respectful dialogs have made it possible for the MUMC Board to make the decision to fly the Transgender Flag on November 20th in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance. It will be the responsibility of the Transgender community to provide a 20ft by 30ft Transgender Flag that will fly at full mast on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. We would ask that the community coordinate the flying of the flag with a commemoration that can bring the much needed focus, recognition and pride to the transgender community.

Respectfully Yours,

Terry Asten Bennett – MUMC President,

MUMC: “We did not receive a request to fly Transgender Flag at full mast.”

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“I’ve been in the Castro my whole life. It’s amazing, supportive and diverse – and I wouldn’t ever change that.” – Terry Bennett

UPDATED: MUMC will fly the flag!

The latest from MUMC’s President, Terry Bennett, with regard to flying the Transgender Flag in Harvey Milk Plaza on Transgender Day of Remembrance, November 20th,

Thank you for your message to MUMC (of which I am President).

The request made to MUMC was to fly the Transgender Flag at half mast.

The MUMC Board denied the request because it is unsafe to fly the Rainbow Flag in a lowered position. I am aware that the Flag has been flown in a lowered position 5 times in the past. That never should have happened. When I took over MUMC’s President in April, I arranged for a complete mechanical training at the Flag pole, by the person who has maintained it since its inception. The Flag pole was built to fly an oversized Flag at full height. An even-slightly lowered position creates a situation where, if one of the riggings breaks, the Flag would be in the MUNI and power lines across Market Street and/or could endanger vehicle traffic and passing pedestrians.

MUMC has not received a revised request to fly the Transgender Flag at full mast. I respect and honor the Transgender community, their struggles both internally and externally. I believe that their Day of Remembrance should be honored. I do not have unilateral authority to make any decision about the Rainbow Flag. The MUMC Board as a whole makes these decisions, and they do not take them lightly. When MUMC took stewardship of the Flag, it was given the mission of flying the Rainbow Flag at full mast all of the time, with the exception of the week before Folsom Fair, when the Leather Flag would fly. A couple of years ago, when the Bear community was looking at their last Bear Weekend, a decision was made to fly the Bear Flag.

I can’t give you an answer today as to how the MUMC Board is going to deal with this issue, but we are working on a solution, and it is being done with heart and mindfulness.

I appreciating your reaching out to MUMC and to me with your concerns. Please understand that I will not be able to engage further on this issue until the MUMC Board has worked through how they will deal with it.

Terry Asten Bennett
MUMC President
General Manager, Cliff’s Variety

via Facebook

MUMC denies request to fly Trans flag for Trans Day of Remembrance

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UPDATED: MUMC will fly the flag!

In early September, local black, transgender, HIV-positive, senior and military veteran Veronika Fimbres submitted written and verbal requests to the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro to fly the Transgender Pride flag at Harvey Milk Plaza for Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th. TDOR is a day to honor and pay respect to all of the transgender victims of violence, harassment and prejudice around the world. The MUMC responded to her request on Monday in writing saying,

“The MUMC Board has thoroughly reviewed, discussed and considered the request, and we appreciate your patience while that was done. The request is not approved and there will be no change in the Rainbow Flag display on November 20.”

The letter was signed by Cliff’s Variety Store owner Terry Bennett, President of the MUMC.

The MUMC controls what flags and at what position the flags fly (half-mast, etc). Check out their official policy statement for the Rainbow Flag and Flag Pole.

The Castro Biscuit has made a formal inquiry to the MUMC for details on why the request was denied. We have not heard back from the MUMC yet. We have also asked Supervisor Scott Wiener if he has any comment regarding the situation.

Veronika has setup a petition to garner support for raising the flag for TDOR.

Meanwhile, San Diego’s well known gay neighborhood of Hillcrest has decided the flag is worthy to fly on their newly erected pride flag pole for TDOR (thanks to reader Jess for the scoop!):

via Petrelis Files