What won't be mentioned is the campaign of retaliation against those who raised these issues over the course of seven years, a campaign in which even the current director acknowledges having participated. The private apologies hardly compensate those of us who were publically attacked for years on end and deprived of opportunities to participate. But there is a much larger, much more important issue.

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits retaliation against people who raise access issues, but the City of Berkeley and its council, its relevant commissions, its well-meaning officers and staff, and the festival staff and advisors all proved unwilling or unable to craft any way to protect those few who have the courage to attempt to discuss access-related difficulties.

Long after the music has faded, the vitriolic efforts to discredit those who raised the issues will have left their mark not only on the people who were personally attacked, but also on a community terrified of raising the same issues for fear of receiving the same treatment.

We can truly acknowledge having made progress when event organizers are willing to meet and discuss accessibility issues without resorting to blacklisting and retaliation, so that no one is afraid to raise the issues in the first place.