Looks like a one-sided coin story.

This is all so disgusting.

There must be a curse on the legacy of Mayday / Blackout. It never seems to stay above controversy. Volunteers absconding with funds, books and internet addresses, traveler community using the space as a default crash pad, violence, secterianism, drunken brawls, not to mention the cold, distrusting looks one recieves when entering the space, its no wonder this experiment is coming to an end.

I truely feel sad and disapointed, and hope that all parties find solice in their future.

That's really pathetic.

Ah! But is it really coming to an end? This is just end of another cycle of struggle beckoning a new start for us all. Let us believe and act according to our ideals, stand up against oppression, learn from the past. This is how the anarchist thinks...
Who congratulates the violent, and condemns the victim? Who relishes the misfortune of fellow human beings, instead of justice? Who languishes in pessimism and fatalistic delusion?
Rise up! Make the anarchist books for humanities sake!

Irregardless of what people think of the individuals involved, May Day is a project worth supporting. There are so few independent bookstores out there and the ones that exist have a precarious existence.

It's so easy to criticize and diss people involved in a collective project from the safety of an anonymous Internet post. People will take your criticisms more seriously when you identify yourself as a person who is actually involved with May Day or a similar project. It takes alot of patience, persistence and commitment to keep a project like May Day going.

As far the comment which said such things as the "traveler community using the space as a default crash pad" - it has been years since this has been the case at May Day.

As far as some of the rest of that comment, as well as the person saying this too will pass, and the person saying to support alternative spaces -

May Day through its existence has been dependent upon being in the good graces of the Theater for the New City, and especially the small group which really controls TNC. In addition to this, there have been aspects of TNC which have not been pleasant for May Day. Primy Rivera and his brother, who is on probation, being charged with assaulting a TNC staffer and May Day volunteer are not the only things which have made the theater (and thus the bookstore) an unsafe atmosphere. By unsafe I don't just mean physical attacks by parolees and their brothers. But there's no reason to go into such things further, the point is basically that May Day has been at the mercy of TNC more or less.

And why is that? Because at its core, May Day has always been run by a small group of people that at all times can be counted on a hand. For the six months I was on unemployment, I did a regular two-fer shift on Tuesdays (six hours), so I suppose you could say for those six months I was part of that core, although I never joined the collective, because I never wanted to assume the responsibility that went along with it.

A far as alleged "cold, distrusting looks one recieves when entering the space", which I think are in @'s mind, even if that were the case, if that is all the antipathy you get walking into a space, on a *relative* scale, you are doing pretty good.

There probably aren't many people here who know the whole story of NYC Indymedia's space on 29th Street (before they moved last year). Anyhow, I was one of the people who originally shelled out a few hundred a month for the space. Then NYC Indymedia came in and was allowed to use half of the space for free for a while. Then the rent was raised and they were told they had to kick some money in. And so forth. But anyhow - for years I used to walk into Indymedia, usually looking for someone I knew (and usually not finding them). About a year ago, I walked in and someone demanded to know who I was and what I was doing there, which is the first time that ever happened. It reminded me of WBAI - when it was on Eighth Avenue in the early 1990s, you could just waltz in without a problem. Nowadays you go to Wall Street, sign in with the guard, go up, get buzzed in etc. ABC No Rio started locking their door at night in the past few years. The door to the Muste building is always locked. Compare this to May Day, where anyone is free to walk in, browse the books, sit down and read through them, or to take a book from the take-a-book bin or borrow a book for free (with a returnable deposit) from the library. The poster feels he gets distrustful looks, but what spaces does the community have that are more welcoming than May Day? And what has he done to contribute to that? Why do I have a feeling the answer is, very little, except for complaints.

I agree 100% with the person who said "May Day is a project worth supporting. There are so few independent bookstores out there and the ones that exist have a precarious existence...It takes a lot of patience, persistence and commitment to keep a project like May Day going." As I said before, it is not only an independent bookstore, it is a space that anyone can come in, at any time, seven days a week, from noon until nine, at least those hours before the current troubles. You did not need a key to get in, or have to sign in with a guard, or have members of the clique ask you what you were doing there.

I would like to ask, with May Day almost certainly being booted from TNC soon, what spaces one can wander into freely between noon and nine and receive a treatment equal or better to "cold, distrusting looks one recieves when entering the space". I think people will be hard-pressed to think of them.

As someone who has worked several times at Theatre for the New City, I'd like to say that this news comes as no surpise. Crystal Field is a lunatic who says one thing and does another. During my experience there, I was lied to, treated terribly and even had personal things stolen several times. The management there is awful and both Crystal and Marc are bitter, angry and uncooperative people. Their Technical Director wanders around the building drunk and Crystal's dog is even to wander around unattended.

Daemian (I may be misspelling his name) is one of the kindest people in that theatre. I seriously doubt that he would start a fight with anyone. He is a very peaceful person who also makes great cookies. I completely disagree with anarchy, but he is still a nice person.

I find this article bizarrely one sided.

1. I find it highly unlikely that this fight was brought on without provocation, and it seems that no-one has bothered to find out Mr. Rivera's side of the story. I have know Primy for years and I know for a fact he is not prone to random acts of violence. Is it not the writers responsibility to find out both sides of the story? Certain "facts" in this story are blatantly false.

2. TNC does not condone violence that is an over dramatic and ridiculous statement. In the 35 years that TNC has been in existence they have consistently been a clear voice against violence, war, and oppression. TNC has always been a positive force in the Lower East Side Community, they have brought theater to people in NYC who might never had had a opportunity to see live theater and to hear the message that they bring which is pro-peace pro community pro family (all kinds of families) pro freedom. It is almost laughable to see Crystal and Marc as the Duvaliers of LES.

3. Crystal Field is not a lunatic, she is definitely an interesting person, but far from a lunatic. Crystal can be extremely kind and nurturing, she has created a space where some of the greatest artists in Theater have found a home at one time or another. TNC is a vibrant, creative and sometimes crazy place, and it has the same problems that every place else has. There are a few people who have passed through throughout the years that have perhaps not felt as much a part of TNC as others and I have always felt that they feelings of exclusion are often brought about by their negative attitudes towards the Theater and the work.


4. I do not mean to regurgitate Crystals comments in the NYTimes, but I find it unusual that such a staunch anarchist would run so quickly to the authorities when faced with a personal problem/conflict. I do not wish to trivialize trauma that this has caused Deamian, I only wish to suggest that perhaps further investigation into the incident may unearth ulterior motives. Was this truly the reason MAYDAY was asked to leave the theater? Perhaps not. What was the future of Mayday? Perhaps this is the only way he can grasp the spotlight with his brilliant portrayal of the ultimate victim.


Deamian has brought havoc into the lives of everyone involved with the Theater. Instead of dealing with this as what it was a personal conflict he has put his livelihood in jeopardy and he has put Primy's livelihood in jeopardy as well. His cries for ATTENTION have now been heard loud and clear.

We all would like to know what Primy has to say, but his is an open case, he's not talking...

Some up to date facts:

In an interview with Colin Moynihan of the New York Times; Crystal Field, Executive Director of Theater for the New City, acknowledged that Demian Schroeder of May Day Books made a complaint to her, over a year ago, about her employee, Primy Rivera, using the TNC front, where May Day Books is located, for his cocaine dealing.

The People of the State of New York -against- Primy Rivera

Dectective John Villaneauva, states:

"On February 4th, 2007, at about 22:00 hours inside 155 1st Avenue, the Defendant commited the offenses of: Assault in the Third Degree (2 counts)
the defendant, with intent to cause physical injury to another person, caused such injury to another person.
The offenses were commited under the following circumstantes:
Deponent states that deponent is informed by informant Jonathan Worthely that informant did observe the defendant strike informant Worthely in the nose with a closed fist causing informant Worthely substantial pain including sweeling to informant Worthely's nose and 2 black eyes. Deponent is further notified by informant Demian Schroeder that informant Schroeder did observe the defendant commit the following acts: (i) strike informant Schroeder in the face two times with a closed fist (ii) push informant of informant's chair and onto the ground with both of the defendant's hands, and (iii) choke informant by wrapping defendant's arms around informant Schroeder's neck and applying pressure. Deponant is further informed by informant Schroeder that defendant's above stated actions did cause informant Schroeder to suffer substatial pain including swelling and bruising to informant Schroeder's face and eye."

Schroeder and Worthely didn't intitally go to the police so the incident would be resolved in house.

The next day, February 5th, Primy was at the Theater rehearsing Fields play The Further Adventures of Uncle Wiggily, in which Worthely was employed as a stagehand. Field was asked to answer the concerns of the victims, in her capacity at the Theater.

Field threated that if Schroeder and Worthely went to the police, May Day would be evicted.

Worthely quit Uncle Wiggily.

After extensive efforts to co-operate with the administration, out of concern for public safety; a police report was filed on February 8th. Rivera was arrested at the Theater while rehearsing Field's play.

Orders of protection were issued for Schroeder and Worthely on February 10th, stating that Rivera stay away from them, their homes, schools, businesses of, and places of employment.

Worthely was fired, and banned from working on TNC productions.

May Day Books cash drawer was broken into and robbed of $73. A report was filed with the police.

Field gave Schroeder Rivera's rehearsal schedule, (corresponding with when May Day is open;) and the House Manager told Schroeder he would be arrested if he entered areas open to the public outside of the front of the building where May Day does business.

A Thirty Day Notice of Termination, by The attorney of the Landlord, was served to May Day on February 15, 2007, regarding premises including "associated storage area in basement."

House Manager tells Schroeder that Production Manager Marc Marcante says that Schroeder is not allowed to go past bathrooms just inside of front lobby.

Comments:
Does Schroeder just want attention for himself, or is he acting out of social responsibility in the face of lies, arrogance, corruption, negligence, criminal activity, and violation of public trust by administrators of a not-for-profit community based cultural center?

Is Schroeder destroying an institution, or is he standing up for himself and the community, and in effect trying to improve the situation for all involved?

Are Schroeder's actions harmful to Primy Rivera's ability to conduct Rivera's life, or are they meant to protect others from his harm, and thus free Rivera from further damage to himself?

This is not a onesided story. The massive lies and indefensible actions by Crystal Field are what obsfucates the truth and holds the community hostage in these difficult times. So please, enough with the blame the victim line. Our readers are too intelligent to fall for that.

from post above:

"Field gave Schroeder Rivera's rehearsal schedule, (corresponding with when May Day is open;) and the House Manager told Schroeder he would be arrested if he entered areas open to the public outside of the front of the building where May Day does business."

Correction:

...the Houe Manager told Schroeder he would be arrested if he entered public areas inside the building other than in the front where May Day does business.