DIGGER ARCHIVES The Digger Archives is project to preserve and present the history of the anarchist guerrilla street theater group that was one of the legendary groups in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury. Shrouded in a mystique of anonymity, the Diggers took their name from the original English Diggers (1649-50) who had promulgated a vision of society free from private property, and all forms of buying and selling. The San Francisco Diggers evolved out of two radical traditions that thrived in the SF Bay Area in the mid-1960s: the bohemian/underground art/theater scene, and the new left/civil rights/peace movement. The Diggers combined street theater, anarcho-direct action, and art happenings in their social agenda of creating a free city. Their most famous activities included distributing free food every day, and distributing "surplus energy" at a series of free stores (where everything was free for the taking.) The Diggers coined various slogans that worked their way into the counterculture and even into the larger society - "Do your own thing" and "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" being the most recognizable. The Diggers, at the nexus of the emerging underground, were the progenitors of many new (or newly discovered) ideas such as baking whole wheat bread (made famous through the popular Free Digger Bread that was baked in one- and two-pound coffee cans at the Free Bakery); the first free medical clinic, which inspired the founding of the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic; tie-dyed clothing; and, communal celebrations of natural planetary events. DIGGER MANIFESTOS 1. Money Is An Unnecessary Evil It is addicting. It is a temptation to the weak (most of the violent crimes of our city in some way involve money). It can be hoarded, blocking the free flow of energy and the giant energy-hoards of Montgomery Street will soon give rise to a sudden and thus explosive release of this trapped energy, causing much pain and chaos. As part of the city's campaign to stem the causes of violence the San Francisco Diggers announce a 30 day period beginning now during which all responsible citizens are asked to turn in their money. No questions will be asked. Bring money to your local Digger for free distribution to all. The Diggers will then liberate it's energy according to the style of whoever receives it 2. A-Political Or, Criminal Or Victim Or Or Or Or Or Or Or . . . You're born a citizen of a nation. A citizen of a nation with rulers who legislate rules commanding you to be free. Free to be conditioned in school until you're sixteen. Free to be a compulsory soldier. Free to pay sixty percent of your taxes to the military budget. Free to get legally married. Free to work for a minimum wage. Free to vote when you're twenty-one. Free to vote for the democratic or republican party of your choice. Free to buy clothes, food, and property from the 200 corporations which account for 45% of the total US manufacturing in 1966. Free to obey arbitrary curfews. Free to have your freedom regulated by officers who are your friends and who protect you. PROTECT you from obscenity. PROTECT you from loitering. PROTECT you from nudity. PROTECT you from sedition and subversion. PROTECT you from marijuana, LSD, DRUGS. PROTECT you from gambling. PROTECT you from homosexuality. PROTECT you from statutory rape. PROTECT you from common-law marriage. PROTECT you from abortion. PROTECT you from lonely you. PROTECT you from demonstrations against your protectors . . . <http://diggers.org>
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