Just four days into the new year, the organizers behind music’s most popular festivals in California has not only released the stellar lineup for this year’s two weekend event but it also announced, according to Pitchfork, a new “initiative to combat assault and harassment at the festival” called Every One. The new initiative hopes to provide a safe place for all those who to take part at this year’s music festival and to help fight any kind of harassment of any kind.
“We are pushing ourselves and our guests to do better and to be better,” the Every One section of the Coachella website reads. “We are taking deliberate steps to develop a festival culture that is safe and inclusive for everyone. Persons of any gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, age or ability are welcome at Coachella.” The statement goes on to say that, “Coachella will NOT tolerate any form of assault or harassment, be it sexual, physical or verbal. Anyone found to be in violation of this policy is subject to immediate removal from the festival site and law enforcement may be notified.”
During the 2019 festival, that specific roles and tasks will be taken in order to make the event safe including having “Trained Safety Ambassadors throughout the festival grounds to facilitate access to care services,” tents “staffed with trained counselors for anyone that needs extra support or a quiet moment away,” and “places with program information or people trained in awareness and appropriate response.” The festival grounds will also have available restrooms locations that will be open for not only male and female but also all-gender restrooms. These all-gender restrooms will be available for anyone regardless of their gender identity or expression.
The idea, to make all those in attendance, feel safe and wanted comes from previous year where there was large reports of sexual misconduct. No where on the official website of the popular festival did Coachella have any comment regarding sexual assault or harassment. With the reveal of Every One, it is a grand step towards a better and safer festival experience for future events, sexual, physical or verbal. Anyone found to be in violation of this policy is subject to immediate removal from the festival site and law enforcement may be notified.”
In a statement from the festival’s Equity, Saftey and Inclusiion Consultant, Veline Mojarro, expressed that, “everyone from staff to festival-goer is imperative in co-creating a festival culture that not only keeps everyone safe, but respected and included,” Mojarro said. “We are excited to be partnering with professional service providers, local community members, and experts in the field of social equity and sexual harassment prevention to launch our Every One initiative. We believe in a festival culture that encourages active consent, inclusivity, and community responsibility.”
According the Coachella’s website that, those who are found in violation of the above policy is subject to be removed from the festival site as well having law enforcement being notified. If removed, the offender’s festival’s wristband will be taken and they will not be refunded. Just something to think about before entering Coachella this year.
To understand Every One a little more, go visit Coachella’s official website for more information or by clicking here to read the entire mission statement.
Leave a Comment