By Margit Griffith
Perhaps you have seen the videos of the good people of Minneapolis singing peacefully in protest against the surge of violence in their city. Across the United States and in countries around the world, people are joining in song. If this is news to you, please see this Anderson Cooper story.
Recently, the Minneapolis organizers have been helping people organize in community groups. There is no cost, no ask. They seek to help those interested in engaging to protest in song.
If you look at singingresistance on Instagram you can see their toolkit, which is an important start. They recommend groups get together to sing and build community before going out to sing in protest.
Taking their advice and guidance, I have started singingresistancelincolnma on Instagram and invite you to join me at a first Lincoln community gathering to talk about this movement and sing some songs. All are welcome — all ages, those who sing on pitch and those who find their own notes. Please RSVP (I plan to provide some pizza and salad since it’s dinner time):
Monday, Feb. 23, 6:00–7:30pm
St. Anne-in-the-Fields is happy to host us in the Flint Room (147 Concord Road, Lincoln)
If there is interest and enthusiasm, we can meet every other week, and plan actions on other dates. It’s entirely possible we will be joined by other pods of singers from other communities. Hope to see you and sing with you.
“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.
UPDATE: Inclement Weather Statement
Dear Would-be Singers,
We will NOT be meeting on Monday, February 23rd. The governor has declared a state of emergency and the snow has started falling. St Anne’s is checking their schedule to provide us with another date and I will post that information here.
I thought we might meet via a virtual platform (Zoom or Google Meet) tomorrow (Monday), but with threats of widespread power outages, that seems like courting trouble.
For those who reached out and said they’d like to participate, I will send an email privately. If you don’t receive this email, please re-reach out and I will send it again. If you are newly interested in participating, please let me know.