One ought not underestimate the force of a room full of people who have chosen to listen, even if the room is a black box theatre in November. These events may not topple any governments, but they do correct a social embarrassment, the idea that artists should endure every new act of censorship with polite silence. Whether the movement matures into lasting alliances or remains a very intense weekend will depend on what is done when the banners are folded and the lights come up. Constancy, not fashion, is what turns sentiment into change.