MIM Notes 192 August 15 1999
Serve the People benefit rocks SoCal 

LONG BEACH, CA - On July 18, RAIL and MIM sponsored a benefit show 
in Long Beach for MIM's Serve the People Free Books for Prisoners 
Program. Two RAIL comrades took the lead in organizing the show on 
short notice. Without their initiative, enthusiasm, and self-
reliance, the event would not have taken place. RAIL and MIM also 
send a shout out to all the bands who played for their generosity 
and willingness to support this important program. So thanks to 
Pseudostar, Bad Chili, The Waywards, and Half Happy, who all 
donated their share of the door ($5 per persyn) to the Free Books 
Program. 

Between sets, comrades told the crowd about the great need for 
political education in prisons, and the constant demand for books 
that the program struggles to keep up with. The lead-singer for 
Bad Chili talked about his experience with the prison system and 
expressed support for Free Books for Prisoners. Pseudostar 
announced that this benefit was but the first of many and has 
already begun to plan more benefits with RAIL and MIM in the 
future. 

To organize the show, the two RAIL comrades had to recruit the 
bands, co-ordinate logistics (such as a sound system), find a 
venue willing to donate its space (thanks Que Sera), and publicize 
the show. The most effective advertisement turned out to be word-
of-mouth among the bands' fans, but the RAIL comrades also did a 
lot of pavement-pounding, going to other shows and handing out 
flyers. Because of the short notice and the fact that the show was 
on Sunday night, turn out was small and also a bit unorganized. 
But overall the local RAIL and MIM comrades consider the event a 
success. Even with the small turn-out the show was an easy way to 
raise some money for the Free Books for Prisoners Program and 
mobilize support beyond a narrow circle of "politicos." Comrades 
look to learn from the show's shortcomings in the future.