Tag: civil rights

(Photo credit: pussy-riot.livejournal.com)

FEB 27, 2012 - Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk musical activist band who stages illegal concerts and protests, often from rooftops, protesting issues such as women's rights in Russia and most recently the policies and re-election campaign of Prime Minister Putin. Wearing skimpy outfits even in cold weather and stylish balaclavas, they release Internet videos of their illegal concerts in public places. Recently they managed to stage a concert in strictly guarded Red Square, and were arrested. After being held for 5 hours, they were fined 500 rubles (about $17 US) and released. On their website they say, “We Believe That the Soviet Union's Aggressive Imperial Politics are Similar in many Ways to Putin's course. The way the State treats its Citizens hasn't changed much since the times of the USSR; there is still paternalist supervision and police control over people.” They add, “Some of us are anarchists, leftist Have some Liberal Positions. We would like horizontal political activity, self-organization and the capability to be aware of oneself as an equal participant in civil politics, to understand one's rights and fight for them to develop. Russian Society lacks tolerance and lenience.”

If you have Google Chrome, you can use the translator to check out their site here, where you can see pics of them staging one of their public protest concerts at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral which ruffled a lot of feathers. Check out one of their videos below.

FEB 3, 2012 - Miley Cyrus is once again delving into her musical activism, this time writing an essay for Glamour magazine explaining why she got her equal tattoo that started a Twitter controversy and talks about why she supports same-sex marriage and civil rights for our LBGT community. She writes, " I believe every American should be allowed the same rights and civil liberties. Without legalized same-sex marriage, most of the time you cannot share the same health benefits, you are not considered next of kin and you are not granted the same securities as a heterosexual couple. How is this different than having someone sit in the back of the bus because of their skin color?" Read her whole essay on Glamour here.
(Photo credit: calmdownlove/Wiki)

JAN 25, 2012 - Over 80 musicians spanning music styles and genres as well as age, have all come together to honor 50 years of Bob Dylan and his musical activism, and have teamed up with Amnesty International in an album called "Chimes of Freedom". Musicians include everyone from Miley Cyrus to Patti Smith, and from Joe Perry to Ziggy Marley.

Amnesty International says the album is dedicated to "people worldwide who are unjustly imprisoned or threatened for the peaceful expression of their beliefs." Check out a track from the album below, and read more at the Amnesty International website here. 

NOV 30, 2011 - 80 activist musicians are all coming together to honor Bob Dylan and Amnesty International for their 50 years of work on protecting and supporting human and civil rights in an album called "Chimes of Freedom" to be released in January of 2012. From Patti Smith to Kris Kristofferson, and even lesser-known artists, a diverse group of musicians will all contribute to this project produced by by legendary music executive Jeff Ayeroff and Julie Yannatta. 

"This album is a powerful fusion of the music community's respect for Amnesty's life-affirming work and for Bob Dylan's enduring brilliance," said Ayeroff and Yannatta. "We are proud to have worked with Amnesty to produce this remarkable project."

On Amnesty International's website they say, "Through Chimes of Freedom, Amnesty International seeks to enlist support for its fight against censorship and attacks on free speech -- whether involving artists, writers, musicians, political activists or bloggers. In this campaign, Amnesty is fighting for people such as the imprisoned Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in China, a scholar and human rights defender imprisoned since 2009 for writing about corruption and criticizing China's political system. In addition to purchasing the album at " To learn more go to AI's website by clicking here.
 

Almost overnight, a group of non-violent protesters launched "#OccupyKST" to show solidarity with the protesters at Wall Street, and for what many of them have said has been a lack of media covering the event up in New York.

They chose McPherson Square first because under 500 people you do not need a permit, and secondly it is in the middle of the "K Street Corridor" that are the offices of the thousands of for-profit lobbyists that many protesters believe are the biggest reasons why are political system is so corrupt and paralyzed right now, and why people are suffering.

We will keep you updated on what we hear and see from down there, and JTMP will be down there on Thursday, October 6th for the launching of the Freedom Plaza Occupy DC event, and will post pics and video as the "occupation" unfolds so check back. Also, there is an Occupy DC website.

(Photo credit: Reuters/uPolitic)