The cities are quiet, too quiet. Not from peace... but control.

The air hangs thick with silence not born of order, but of fear. Our streets once roaring with ambition, deals, and daring now echo with the same tired footfalls of those who've ruled unchecked for far too long. We all know their names. We all know the story. What was once a life of strategy and legacy has turned into a monument to stagnation, creativity throttled, voices buried, and power hoarded. You've choked the life from these streets. What once was a world of opportunity, of earned names and fresh blood rising is now a museum of your wealth, power, and pride. You speak of loyalty, but it's loyalty to your grip, not to the life, not to the code. You've turned this thing of ours into your private inheritance.
 

But change... change doesn't have to come through bloodshed.
 

This is a call.

Not for violence.

Not for war.

But for resistance.

On Friday, the 20th of June, I'm calling for a peaceful protest. A mass walkout.

For one weekend, just one, let's remind the ivory towers they only rise as long as we build them. Whether you're a fresh-faced gangster or you've earned your bones as a made man this is your chance to stand on the right side of history.

How?
Simple. Leave your crew. Don't report in. Don't earn. Don't serve. Don't be a cog in someone else's silent machine. For 72 hours, we go dark. Together.

No disrespect. No vendettas. Just truth in numbers. Leave your family. Stop earning. Let them count empty HQs. Let them scroll through streets gone still. Let them know what it feels like when the machine halts.

Why?
Because we deserve a world where everyone matters.
Where ideas thrive.
Where families rise and fall on merit, not monopoly.

They say we can't make a difference. That we're just pieces on their board.
But what happens when the pieces stop moving?

This is our moment, not to burn it all down but to show we could.

To Craven. To Shifty. To Ennis. To Soul-Hooligan. To Scousepole. To Striphe.

You know who you were.

I remember.

So do the streets.

You were dreamers once, disruptors, visionaries, voices that cut through the static. Somewhere along the way, you fell into the rhythm. Into comfort. Into compromise. I’m not here to shame you. I’m here to remind you.

It’s not too late to turn back. To lead again, not rule. To inspire, not just command. To choose the fire of legacy over the ashes of obedience.

No bullets. No blood. Just absence. Just unity. Just defiance

I ask for no titles. No wars. No spoils.

Only change.

And if you still feel the pull of the streets like you used to then prove it.

Join us.

The Stand begins Friday.

I am just going to be honest here. I am not going to do a walk out. I will however, should I find myself seeing the pearly gates leave a letter for my next of kin with a lawyer dictating that they do not join any current standing fancy suit. You may have better luck attempting to force our shores to a rebuild law that sees all of the fancy suits return to less fancier suits. That would be a better protest that I could get behind. 

It would take weeks of keeping the shores into a rebuild law though but could be done if those that decided they had enough of this reign of stagnation wanted to do it rather than returning to their kins timely deaths every so often. 

Just my thoughts though. Take it with whatever size of salt you would like. 

Not for nothing, but the only one there that I’d consider a leader/dreamer and definitely the only person able to cause any real disturbance is Space. The rest can be best summarised in one word; “who?”

You have piqued my interest, however, so I shall join your movement as one final Hail Mary before I leave these streets to the rats and cockroaches.

I don’t suppose greed and avarice has any sense of shame, guilt, remorse or contrition though, so I don’t expect this movement to effect the sort of change required to turn the ship around at this point. I mean, let’s be honest - we have had Demi-gods (plural) helping this regime during this reign, advising and enforcing the idiocy that has led us here, where we’re circling the drain.

Nevertheless, we can but try. You have my support this one final time, squire.

Ryusui being the greediest man in the world found himself near the center of the speach when AKA started speaking.

"I also support your message, and the one above what I am typing now."

"I'll also walk out and leave things behind a while... although I don't think it'll change a single thing." 

Step One: Everyone leaves their crew.

Step Two: ?

Step Three: Freedom and the change we want to see.

Please tell us more about Step 2.

TomJoad, the real McCoy, the thinking man’s muscle, the epitome of ‘rank up and do something about it’, the hat and the cattle. I’m an admirer of your lineage if you couldn’t tell, a fast gun AND a fast pen, I’ve watched you wield both with surgical precision at your discretion and since you don’t suffer fools gladly, I digress.

Platitudes out of the way I’ll offer you the only thing that will hopefully hold weight and it’s this…

You’re 100% right to question Step Two and to be honest, it’s still being written. This isn’t a scripted rebellion, think of it as a collective pause. A signal flare. Step Two is us, you, me, whomever talking, planning, regrouping while the dust settles.

Maybe it’s building something new. Maybe it’s pushing leaders to step aside. Maybe it’s giving space for voices that never get heard. The point is, we can't reach Step Two if no one’s brave enough to take Step One.

I’m here welcoming everyone’s insight on what Step Two should be, because if we wait for the perfect plan, we’ll stay in Step Zero forever.

Honestly, I was hoping someone like you would ask that question. Because Step Two can’t be written by one person, especially not someone without the reach or legacy you have.

What we’re doing is planting a seed and seeing what germinates. Step Two is what happens when respected voices like yours help nurture it.

if nothing changes? That says something too.

Throwing this place into full blown rebuild is the only way. One of my kins advocated for this and we had 75-80 people standing on the sidelines for roughly 5/6 days. That was a great start. It will take time. Also the need for folks to come back. That in itself will be a challenge. 

Kudos for taking control way back and shame on those for intentionally (for self serving reasons and you know who you are) sucking the life out this world. And a bigger shame for total disrespect to the Gawd of this thing. You may think he does not care but he does.  

Melancholy, honestly, I appreciate the straight talk and I’d expect nothing less from you. You’ve always stuck to your principles, even when it meant standing against the current, and that kind of integrity is something this world could use more of.

I respect that you’re not taking part in the walkout, and I genuinely value your perspective on the rebuild law. You're right, it would take sustained coordination and a long view, but the fact you’ve even entertained the idea tells me you haven’t tuned out. You still care, and that matters, even if you hate to admit it.

As I've just acknowledged to the gentleman from Chicago, the walkout isn’t meant to be the answer, it’s just a crack in the foundation. If, somewhere down the line, you decide to circle back or want to help steer something like the idea you've mentioned forward, the door’s wide open.

Appreciate you speaking your mind. Keep being you.

Perhaps major changes in kicking this world into rebuild are in order. Is the math old for the current population? I don't have the answer. 

Listening to the speaker and the message, he was inspired.

I support this walk out and will join you on it.

Pat started to get fond memories about walking and how much he enjoyed them.

Seeing as I do enjoy a little.. rebellion, I have begun my walk out many many months ago. I gave up on this world and the people in it long ago. I stick around to watch, and occasionally stir the pot, a far cry from the times I would lead families and make it a priority to be present on main street. The thing that I think many people may forget is that, the current crop of "leaders" if you can even call them that, do not care about anything except holding the people they do not like down. They do not care if people play, they do not care if there is activity on main street, they ONLY care that the select few people who DO care, and who DO want to see this place grow and strive, stay on the bottom. 

Ohhh wow, The Stand... how original. I haven’t seen this level of drama since my nana caught me sneaking out with her cannoli recipe.

So let me get this straight, we're protesting... by doing absolutely nothing? You're calling it a revolution, but really it's a weekend staycation with extra brooding. "Don’t report in. Don’t earn. Don’t serve." Buddy, that ain't a protest—that’s retirement with flair.

You're giving speeches like you’re auditioning to be the next underground messiah. "No bullets. No blood. Just absence." What are we, ghosts now? Is this a heist or a haunted house?

And you wanna call out names like Craven, Shifty, and Soul-Hooligan? Cute. But I’ve seen those guys in silk robes sipping espresso while their underbosses polish their pinky rings. They ain’t rising for a silent flash mob, they’re checking their stocks.

You talk like the streets used to be golden paved with opportunity. Hate to break it to you, but they’ve always smelled like cheap cologne, blood, and overcooked linguine. That’s the life. It ain't a TED Talk.

You wanna change the world? Fine. But don't wrap it in poetry and call it power. Real power’s earned in the shadows, not typed into manifestos.

So go ahead, take your 72-hour nap. Let the streets go quiet.

Camzilla ain’t going dark.
We run the silence.

I wasn't here in time to display my disgust in person, I did pay my respects though. I just want everyone to know that I won't be participating because I'm petty and wasn't mentioned by name.

Can the next of kin of AKA please reserve a payday budget for the walkout weekend to cover missed paydays?

This is important.

First of all my apologies for this late in the day street appearance, I’ve been attending to my father’s affairs, GRHS, he seems to have created somewhat of a stir on his way out, I have it on good authority that much conversing has taken place from those who are opposed to the idea of the June 20th peaceful protest, no surprise that it remains away from public consumption but I’m glad it’s hit a nerve.

So poor old Clampazzo was left with little option other than to…y’know… do some clamping, I think you all knew that would be the case, I have no doubt in mind that somewhere along the lines he came under immense pressure and it placed him in an unpleasant scenario that would’ve resulted in his own decommissioning and it turns out he bends as good as he clamps.

Last but not least, a thank you, to everyone who has contributed positively and negatively to the June 20th initiative, to those that have chosen to message privately I hope now you see my father’s discretion in not sharing anything publicly, but I’ve read a couple of those mails a dozen times over and I’m left with nothing but hope. To those who have publicly supported I am eternally grateful for your bravery. To those in the middle yet to be swayed, please ask your questions, share your insights, this is a chance to speak whilst you’re afforded the opportunity.

In the interim I will continue to push the message forwards that the current status quo is not welcome.

WaffleStompingChamp If a payday budget is something that brings you to the table I think that’s something I, we, can accommodate, without going into too much detail, resources have been offered in this matter.

NY-Goat I acknowledge you, I am proud of you, you came to be present and now you’re seen, in 101 days from my understanding this is your first foray onto the streets, that in itself is a victory of the movement and probably the biggest accomplishment so far, I still think you have a lot more to give and I’m here for it.

Camzilla I get it, I really do, easier to sneer from the cheap seats than risk standing for something.

It breaks my heart a little that you’re braggadocious about the current state of affairs but let me offer some brief insight into your whole existence with my pseudo psychology…

You joined Vegas for distance, not loyalty, a buffer from the very people I’m calling out. Whether you admit it or not, you placed yourself there to avoid getting burned and you knew they’d stifle you like everything else around here. Smart, but you’re transparent.

Since I’m now looking at you and your choices, I look to Lena, credit where it’s due, she’s at least showing up, sure she’s making too many coffee shop cameos that aren’t the moves and if she wants real power, she’ll need to clear out the dead weight and with Adelin half-asleep and Marie doing nothing, she won’t have much choice. Maybe she knows that. Maybe you do too. Close enough for you?

You can laugh all you like but pretending you don’t care is still caring just with less courage.

I’ll be over here trying something. You can keep running the silence.

While I appreciate this unique idea and a peaceful approach. The only thing I can think about are some lyrics from a different era in time.

"Now walk it out, now walk it out, now walk it out, now walk it out, West side walk it out, South side walk it out, East side walk it out, North side walk it out, now here we go..."

My apologies for not bringing much to the conversation, but you have this stuck in my head.

I hope any who partake by leaving their crew may rest in peace, and those who go inactive for that time...well, not much new there for these shores, good way to stick it to the man!

It brings me no pleasure to announce The Peaceful Protest Kill-Squad has put an official hit out on Camzilla for his sneering attitude towards march organizer A-k-A, which has been ruled to constitute a forbidden act of emotional violence against a walk-out hero. Riina, Spike, I'm going to need one of your men to please kill Camzilla ASAP. 

Going about her business, Lena heard a wee gangster announce a hit against one of her own, calling on the heads of Chicago to do his bidding. 

"Good luck with that, pal". 

It was not everyday that some random stranger could make her laugh. "Have the day that you deserve, LeeVanCleef. You're a funny guy".