Jingles Celebrates 34 Years of Free Speech on Ocean Front Walk
Jingles brought his message that “Meat Is
Murder” and his advocacy of a vegan lifestyle to the Boardwalk in 1974.
Since then, he has talked to countless
people, convincing some to treat animals with respect, and not eat them.
“Young people and women are the most receptive to something new,”
says Jingles, who was holding forth at his Boardwalk birthday party, April
27.
Jingles grew up as an average
meat-eating kid in New York. But once, he went to a plant were animals were
slaughtered. The experience was reinforced at a chicken killing plant.
He’s been dedicated to a vegetarianism ever
since.
After 34 years on the Boardwalk,
Jingles should feel secure, but he doesn’t. “There’s no such
thing as seniority out here,” he says. “I have to compete with
newcomers for a spot.
Jingles has
nothing good to say about the new ordinance which will be imposed on OFW in May.
“Free speech advocates got the short end,” he says. “There are
only eight spots for free speech, plus two more for free food. Performers and
vendors get the rest. In fact, the free speech booths (8’x10’) are
next to performers, meaning access to his booth will be cut off for much of the
day.
Posted: Thu - May 1, 2008 at 06:49 PM
