WI Solidarity Singers Show Solidarity with MI Recall of Rick Snyder
I like to think of the Solidarity Singalong as the longest-running of the "occupations," preceding the Occupy movement by many months! We've been singing at the Capitol in Madison every weekday noon (and now every Thursday afternoon as well) since Governor Scott Walker's henchmen kicked last winter's 'round-the-clock protests out of the building. As with the initial February protest, the Solidarity Singalong is energized to roll back Walker's attack on collective bargaining, but it also sings out against other damage done by his administration: damage to public education, Medicaid, voting rights, environmental protections, free speech, transparency in government, and much more. The singing will continue until Walker is out of office, and with the recall elections on the way, Wisconsin will have the opportunity to turf him out sooner rather than later!
- AnnieJo
Yay AnnieJo! Click on over to her profile to find more meat about the Solidarity Sing Alongs then I could ever provide.
We've held a sing along at the Capitol every single weekday since March 11. Today was our 255th sing along. And we plan on being at the Capitol every weekday until Scott Walker is voted out of office.
- Chris Reeder, Organizer/Song-Leader Solidarity Sing Along
Every time I interview someone about the Sing Alongs they refer me to Chris Reeder. A man who is truly changing the world with music.
Even babies like the Sing Alongs
The Solidarity Baby Takes A Nap (All this singing gets tiring)
I asked Chris Reeder about the goals of the Solidarity Sing Alongs and he said
The mission of Solidarity Sing Along is to create positive, progressive change through participatory song.
Solidarity Sing Along began holding sing alongs at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison on March 11, 2011, and has held a sing along at noon every week-day since then. The sing alongs started up as the large protests and the Capitol occupation were ending. They serve to maintain a continuous progressive, pro-labor presence at the Capitol, as well as providing a place where union members, activists, and citizens can come together and rejuvenate their spirits through song as we continue the fight against Governor Walker and his Republican allies.
And Chris gave me a link to this video of Arlo Guthrie at a Solidarity Sing Along leading this song written by his father, Woody Guthrie.
This Land Is Your Land- Arlo Guthrie joins the Solidarity Sing Along 7-15-11
The video at the top of this article was shot by bfealk. Here's a link to the diary where he posted it.
WI Solidarity Singers Show Solidarity With Recall Rick Snyder Effort
I asked him how he got involved with the Solidarity Sing Alongs.
The singalongs are going along nicely. There was a brief period where the administration was trying to limit them by making any group of three or more get a permit 72 hours in advance and pay for extra security at $50 per hour.
Those rules never went into force.
Every weekday the Solidarity Singalongs take place in the Rotunda and on Fridays they are held outside, usually with a "band." The crowd tends to be a little bigger on Fridays.
I got involved just as something fun to do with my grandson. We have been attending for about a month now all together.
The singalongs are a great way to support the recall effort in WI and it just feels good to sing about getting Walker out of office.
- bfealk
I've been following the Solidarity Sing Alongs mostly through AnnieJo's posts to the Protest Music group. Here's the rest of the email interview I had with her.
How did you get involved?
I got involved by accident at first -- I'd be at the Capitol to visit a legislator or speak at a hearing, and there the singing would be! I love to sing, so if there was singing going on in the Rotunda, it always drew me in. Once I learned that it was a regular activity, I began to attend deliberately when I could. Unfortunately, I can only make it a couple of times a month. Writing about the Singalong has been my way to contribute to the effort beyond my ability to show up in person.
What does it mean to you, personally?
To me, the Singalong is commitment to a crucial cause, a determined demonstration of the power of song to peacefully change the world, an opportunity to to draw energy and strength from community when the going gets tough. The Singalong is a beautiful expression of the people's voice, and we're singing in a space that was specifically designed to allow people's voices to be heard.
Besides, as I said, I love to sing!
Is the singing the thing? Or the protest?
The answer is "yes." The singing is the protest, the protest is the singing. It's a glorious symbiosis.
Anything else to add?
The Singalong owes a great deal to our dedicated songleader R. Chris Reeder, who has risen to the occasion with grace and multiple talents. I particularly appreciate his unwavering commitment to non-violence and basic Wisconsin decency. The Singalong also depends on its banner-makers and holders, its documentors (including a woman who posts over 100 Singalong photos on her Facebook account every day!), its lyric-writers, and all the singers both regular and occasional. As for DK Singalong regulars, both Giles Goat Boy and plankbob are among the super-faithful, so if you haven't asked them yet for their perspectives, I'd encourage you to do so! You can also send folks to the Solidarity Singalong Facebook page to keep up on the latest:
Solidarity Sing Along on Facebook
Hope this helps. Looking forward to reading the diary!
-- AnnieJo
And she recommended these videos.
Solidarity Sing Along on Day After Attack from scoutwillie on Vimeo.
On Tuesday members of the Solidarity Sing Along were harrassed by a former Republican state Senator and 2 men carrying a flag closely associated with the Tea Party. One of the latter men physically assaulted a singer.
This is a short video from the Sing Along on the day After the attack. The leader of the group eloquently began with a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. on non-violence. And then they sang......Peacefully
Solidarity Sing Along 240: December 19, 2011
Well that put a tear in my eye.
Thanks to Chris Reeder, AnnieJo, and bfealk for raising their voices and also for making my job, writing this Protest Tuesday diary, easy. It's people like these singers that make a difference. Let's all raise our voices and sing along.
Thanks,
Hairy Larry