Ann Arbor's "Bake Sale for Bombs" attracts attention ... and hassles

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http://www.heritage.com/articles/2010/06/30/ann_arbor_journal/news/doc4c28ea1e42a3a277476609.txt

'Bake Sale for Bombs' attracts attention -- good and bad

Monday, June 28, 2010

By Carlina Duan, Heritage Newspapers

Michigan Peaceworks hosted its second satirical "Bake Sale for Bombs" Saturday evening at the intersection of State Street and North University in downtown Ann Arbor with the aim of promoting peace. Members of the group, however, were deterred from selling goods by both city and university police midway through the event.

Peaceworks, founded in 2002 in Ann Arbor, was initially created as a non-profit project devoted to preventing the Iraq War. With supporters from across Washtenaw County, the organization dedicates itself to raising awareness on the causes and effects of militarism, and other social justice issues.

The organization's recent "Bake Sale for Bombs" was created as a means of promoting its anti-war educational mission throughout the community.

The event created a stir when both university and city police officers interfered with the selling of goods midway through the evening. Event planners originally attempted to set up in the plaza at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival Top of the Park. However, Peaceworks members were told by city police officers that because they were not a part of the festival, they needed to vacate the premises.

After moving to the corner of State and North University streets, both city and university police officers challenged the organization's validity of selling baked goods without a vendor's permit, prompting Peaceworks members to give away their items, yet continue to distribute anti-war literature.

"They weren't able to explain to us whose property it was, and why we couldn't be there," said Elizabeth Entwistle, Peaceworks board member. "We don't want to have issues with the police. We just want to educate people."

A campus police officer later explained that the university requires all groups to obtain permission before distributing literature on campus. Peaceworks was informed that the police had received an emergency call regarding the situation, thus preventing the group from continuing to sell their goods.

The group's first Bake Sale for Bombs was held April 30 at the same location without incident, organizers said.

Despite the occurrence, Entwistle says the bake sale still managed to achieve its educational goals.

"It was a little tense, but it was still a successful event," she said, noting that the organization was able to talk to approximately 50 passers-by. "

With satirical signs expressing themes such as "Make cookies, not peace," the event featured baked goods such as "Chocolate Chips for Battleships," "Scones for Drones" and "Brownies for Bombers."

Members sported "Bake Sale for Bombs" T-shirts as they handed out pamphlets depicting military spending budgets, education deficits, and other facts regarding federal spending schedules.

Entwistle said the satire was reinforced in the hopes of garnering more attention than previous events had received.

"The reason why we switched to doing something satirical like this is because we had a rally on the seventh anniversary of the Iraq war back in March, and we were a little disappointed in the amount of media attention it received," Entwistle said. "Instead of having a rally for peace, we decided we were going to do something 'pro-war.'"

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