More and more people are singing in the streets, for Justice, Safety for our Neighbors, Joy & Resilience, and Community Care. You may have seen some beautiful videos of the Singing Resistance that’s been happening in Minneapolis. It’s our turn now!
National Day of Singing Resistance Rally, Sun March 1 Over 200 showed up for Sunday afternoon March 1 at the ICE Surveillance Facility in Williston, VT. Listen to Joanna’s Colwell’s sharing of a post of them singing here. “We sang songs of solidarity with those living in fear and oppression, songs of defection to encourage ICE agents to quit, and songs of strength to tend our spirits and grow our courage for the road ahead. We sang at this site to highlight the ICE surveillance that happens in Williston, serving as home to the data center “brain” of ICE, right down the road from where the national call center “snitch line” is housed. We are building a resistance movement rooted in love and we are practicing how to move collectively and in harmony. Only love is powerful enough to confront hate. Song is a shortcut to the loving world we are growing, available in every moment. #singingresistance #ICEout”
Canadian Border Rally, Sat March 7, 10-2: Consider this opportunity which will be at the Vermont border organized by groups in both Vermont and Quebec in solidarity between Canadians and Americans working with congregants from the North Hatley UU Church, and notifying the 2 other UU churches in Quebec, one in Montreal, and the other one in Beaconsfield, Quebec. We are also working with a group of Quakers in Montreal. It also seems likely that several individuals from NEK Indivisible will attend along with a woman’s singing group. Karen Horn & Michael Shore plan to go. If going, it’s important to contact Mike McCleese.
1. Singers meet in the Hall/Dining room of Derbyline First Unitarian Parish Church at 10:00 a.m. On March 7, we will practice the suggested songs from the beautiful people on both sides of the border. Singers are encouraged to bring a dish to share for a potluck gathering after the songfest.
2. At 10:45 a.m., singers will gather on the sidewalk in front of the church with banners and signs of welcome, reflecting unity, resistance to fascism, support of all people crossing the US/Canadian border, regardless of citizenship status, messages of friendship and non-violence, and finally, messages of agape love to all who pass over and back across the line passing through Derby Line and Stanstead.
3. Arriving at the border by the Haskell by 11 AM, the Americans and Canadians will gather on their respective sides of the border and sing. Song sheets will be available. Our hope is to sing in English, they respond in French, and back and forth. We may want to mix it up by singing in French and having them respond in English. Let’s make Kristi Noem’s border disappear!
4. At 12:00 noon, singers will march and sing on the way back to the church. Canadian singers are encouraged to cross the border (legally) and join us for a potluck gathering in the church hall.
5. Before departing the event, we will have a brief meeting to assess if there is interest or bandwidth for engaging in future protest song fests at the Haskell or elsewhere.
Still We Gather, Still We Sing: A Community-Wide Potluck and Sing-In, Sat March 21, 5-7 pm will be hosted by members of the Middlebury Area Clergy Association at The Congregational Church of Middlebury (UCC). We will gather in Fellowship Hall to share a potluck dinner and to get to know our neighbors. After the meal, we will gather in the sanctuary to sing songs of hope and nonviolent resistance. These songs, from the Singing Resistance Movement, are being sung at gatherings and rallies across the country. Let us come together in solidarity with our migrant neighbors.