Aug 15, 2012 – JTMP has been blogging extensively about the trial of three members of the Russian female activist punk band "Pussy Riot", and we wanted to pass along a press release from Canadian-born German activist musician Peaches, who has launched a petition to collect signatures on Change.org to Free Pussy Riot, and call and end to this charade by the Russian court where free speech is on trial. Watch the activist music video by Peaches below where in Berlin "about 400 people joined Peaches on the street to show support for the members of Russian conceptual art punk activist band, Pussy Riot, 3 of which are on trial for performing a "punk prayer" against President Vladimir Putin."
They also add that "people from all over the world have contributed their own mini-protest videos calling for the release of Pussy Riot". After watching the video please read the press release below. (photo credit: CC/Peaches)
PEACHES LAUNCHES CHANGE.ORG PETITION IN SUPPORT OF PUSSY RIOT, ACQUIRING OVER 85,000 SIGNATURES IN FIVE DAYS
WITH SIMONNE JONES, PREMIERES “FREE PUSSY RIOT” VIDEO WITH APPEARANCES FROM LYKKE LI, PETER, BJORN & JOHN, THE HIVES, MARGARET CHO, THE KNIFE, MIIKE SNOW, NICK ZINNER OF YEAH YEAH YEAHS, BUN E CARLOS OF CHEAP TRICK, WAYNE KRAMER OF THE MC5, VARIOUS MUSICIANS, ARTISTS, ACTIVISTS, AND FREE-THINKERS
August 15th, 2012 — New York, New York – Peaches has launched a petition in support of the Russian conceptual art punk activist band Pussy Riot on the social action website Change.org. The petition has acquired over 85,000 signatures in just five days and is available for signature at www.change.org/freepussyriot . In March 2012, Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, three members of Pussy Riot, were taken into custody by Russian authorities for criticizing Putin in a ‘Punk Prayer” performed at an Orthodox church in Moscow. The three members were charged with ‘hooliganism motivated by religious hatred’ and face up to seven years in prison with the verdict being delivered this Friday, August 17th. On Friday morning at 11:30am CET, www.freepussyriot.org will stage a demonstration in front of the Berlin Russian Embassy and will deliver the petition.
CLICK READ MORE FOR REST OF PRESS RELEASE
Along with Simmone Jones, various musicians, artists, activists and free-thinkers, Peaches has also premiered the video for her new song, “Free Pussy Riot” which is available via Peaches TV (Link) and Vimeo (Link). On Wednesday, August 3rd approximately 400 Pussy Riot supporters joined Peaches in Berlin for an impromptu video shoot. Over 70 people from all over the world who were unable to attend the last minute filming have contributed footage for the clip to show their support. Included in the new video are The Hives, Marshall Crenshaw, Wayne Kramer (MC5), Bonaparte, Margaret Cho, Dave Hill, Kate Nash, JD Samson (Le Tigre, Men), Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters), Bun E Carlos (Cheap Trick), Lykke Li, Coco Morier, Miike Snow, Peter Bjorn & John, Deichkind, Scream Club, Roxy Cottontail, Light Asylum, and The Knife.
Peaches stated, “As a musician who has spoken out against political figures, I am deeply troubled that the Russian government is punishing its citizens for voicing their opinions through music. Music is an essential tool for voicing opinions about everything from gender to oppression. To outlaw the free expression of these ideas is to embrace tyranny. Letting artists speak is the hallmark of a free society. I’ve criticized world leaders in my music before, and I am dismayed that the artists expressing their opinions in Russia today are being harassed by their government. I am appalled that the Russian government is so blatantly abusing its power and punishing citizens for speaking their minds.”
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change – growing by two million new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country. For more information on Change.org, please visit www.change.org/about .
Peaches is represented worldwide by Danny Goldberg and Cyndy Villano for GoldVE Entertainment
