Bulls on Parade
by Tod Seelie
Carnival season in New Orleans is a months-long affair that officially begins on 12th Night, January 6th. Social organizations called krewes fill the streets with parades and balls, culminating in Mardi Gras, which this year will come next week, on the 17th of February. The krewes are built around a theme or style, some very specific (miniatures, dogs, red beans, canoes), while others are more for creative interpretations of a vibe. Krewe of Eris is one of the latter, basing its costumes and creations around the Greek goddess of discord and chaos.
The Eris parade, composed mainly of artists and anarchists, is typically a fun, raucous event with impressive costumes that often tower over their wearers. Itβs a far cry from the glitzy big-budget productions of the feature parades; this is a small community event with a DIY-punk vibe.
I was with the Eris parade in 2011 when things turned unexpectedly dark and violent at the hands of the New Orleans Police Department. A melee exploded when the routine shunting of the parade away from the French Quarter by the NOPD from inside their cruisers suddenly turned into a swarm of officers who began arresting the band. Instruments were smashed, pepper spray and Tasers were deployed, parade members were wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. Parents grabbed their children and ran, photographers were maced, and frantic participants tried to pull their friends free from the cops.
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