PAST
We have fought and will continue to fight any attempt to destroy our community and uproot Venetians. Free Venice was originally formed in 1969 to fight a freeway on West Washington Blvd. (now Abbot Kinney Blvd.) and educate around the detrimental aspects of City Hall's "Master Plan."

We also led the fight against the city's redevelopment plans for the Venice Canals. We again made news when we resisted police oppression on the Ocean Front through the Venice Defense Committee. Free Venice originated the community newspaper The Beachhead (8,000 copies presently distributed free each month), started the Free Venice Food Co-op (one of the largest food co-ops in the County) and also initiated the Free Venice Ecology Community (perhaps the city's most controversial recycling project). Free Venice was instrumental in forming the Venice Free Theatre at the Pavilion. Free Venice people have been active in most of the community action projects in Venice.

Free Venice joined with other local organizations and Movement groups across Los Angeles, the state and the nation in an intensive Indochina Peace Campaign to end the war not just in Vietnam, but in all of Indochina.

PRESENT
Free Venice feels strongly that in order to gain control over our lives, power must be placed in the community: Community Control of Community Affairs. Since 1969 we have been calling for community congresses, so naturally we supported the concept of the Town Council in the 1970-90s, and the Neighborhood Council in the 2000s.