[inline:01]Since 1998, Reverend Billy’s Church of Stop Shopping has been practicing radical street theater on the sidewalks and chain stores of New York and countless towns across the land. His mission? Inspiring resistance to runaway mass consumption and corporate erosion of public space. His pulpit? “ Those contested spaces between the public and private domains.”
The Church of Stop Shopping Statement of Belief:
Consumerism is overwhelming our lives. The corporations want us to have experiences only through their products. Our neighborhoods, “commons” places like stoops and parks and streets and libraries, are disappearing into the corporatized world of big boxes and chain stores. But if we “back away from the product” – even a little bit, well then we Put The Odd Back In God! The supermodels fly away and we’re left with our original sensuality. So we are singing and preaching for local economies and real – not mediated through products – experience. We like independent shops where you know the person behind the counter or at least – you like them enough to share a story. We ask that local activists who are defending themselves against supermalls, nuke plants, gentrification – call us and we’ll come and put on our “Fabulous Worship!” Remember children… Love is a Gift Economy!
Starbuck’s has been Rev. Billy’s bete noire, a perfect foil for his righteous rants. Starbuck’s has even taken out a restraining order keeping the good Reverend from within 750 feet of their shops. It’s a miracle he can go anywhere!
Here’s a video of the Church taking over a Starbuck’s to protest the appropriation of the Ethiopian “Sidamo” coffee name. The laying-on-of-hands on the cash register is a particularly transgressive moment. For deeper background on the Sidamo/Starbucks controversy, read David Bollier’s previous post.
Rev. Billy’s book, What Should I Do if Reverend Billy Is in My Store? is based on a hilarious corporate memo circulated to all stores. The title comes from the title of a memo that Starbuck’s headquarters circulated to its stores in preparation for a dreaded visit from the Rev.
If you’re in DC on June 17th, attend the East Coast premier of the new Rev. Billy documentary, What Would Jesus Buy, at Silverdocs, AFI’s film festival in Silver Spring, MD. The Rev. and his choir will be there, or catch them in a town near you.