All these bands will be playing to support a protest against a proposed anti-skating ordinance within the city of Sacramento. The ordinance would ban skateboarding and in-line skating from Sacramento business district sidewalks and private property without the owner's permission. Although it hasn't even reached the committee stage, the Sacramento Police Department hopes to have the law in place by sometime in the fall. The SPD says the ordinance is a response to businesses and citizens complaining about skaters intimidating pedestrians and damaging property. I sympathize with some of the things like graffiti and stuff, but I don't think it's as large as they're making out.
Skaters feel the ordinance is a heavy-handed response to a minor problem.
They admit there are a few bad apples in the bunch, but insist this represents a minority. They also raise legitimate points regarding transportation and restricting activities for young people. If you do skate, or you'd just like to spend your Saturday listening to some cool bands, then head on down to the rally. Most of the bands are Sacramento fixtures. Welt is releasing their second record Aug. 9 and have just finished repairing Jerry Perry's bathtub.