#SolidarityWisconsin, a petition to get the Wisconsin Attorney General to drop the prosecution of over 400 protest singers arrested last summer, has garnered the support of Pussy Riot members Nadya Tolokonikova and Masha Alyokhina. They make an appearance in the video below to show their encouragement of protestors efforts to use music for social change. Pussy Riot, the feminist punk rock group, is well known for their political protests and being imprisoned in their native Russia for them. They were recently re-arrested at the Olympics in Sochi, [Sochi], and played a show in Brooklyn for Amensty International, [Amnesty International].
#SolidarityWisconsin from The Voice Project on Vimeo.
Members of Wisconsin’s “Solidarity Sing Alongs” have been singing at noon at their capitol building for three years now. Their initial cause was protesting union and worker rights following the stripping of collective bargaining rights by their governor. However, following the arrest of 400 protestors, the cause has expanded to their fight for freedom of speech. A cause championed by Pussy Riot.
The video was produced by the human rights group The Voice Project. Executive Director Hunter Heaney stated, “This is an issue that transcends politics, right and left, this is about standing up for freedom of expression, and that is a human right that also transcends borders.” On the participation of Pussy Riot in the video,
“more and more we’re seeing artists and activists who have had enough, and who are summoning the courage to stand up to the direction the world is taking under its current leadership, and as an organization we’re working to defend, support and bring together those voices.”
To support the movement, you can sign the petition here.
Brittney Borruso www.facebook.com/rockstella