Pete Seeger has spent decades protesting against war, racial inequaliy and unfair labor practices, and on Friday night , he lent his support -- and voice -- to the growing Occupy Wall Street movement.
After performing at New York City's Symphony Space, the legendary folk singer fell in with a group of roughly 1,000 protestors and marched more than 30 blocks down Broadway. Upon reaching Columbus Circle, he sang a version of 'We Shall Overcome,' one of the many up-with-the-people anthems he's helped to popularize over the years.
Joining the 92-year-old music legend were fellow folkie Arlo Guthrie, musician grandson Tao Rodriguez Seeger, bluesman Guy Davis, composer David Amram and singer-storyteller Tom Chapin.
Throughout the march, Seeger and the demonstrators chanted such slogans as, "We are the 99 percent," a rallying call in the movement against corporate greed.
Here is video of the event. You can see Seeger and others illuminated by flashes starting around the :50 mark.
Personally as a child of the sixties and seventies I am not even sure how you even HAVE a protest without the presence of Mr. Seeger.
Just imagine how much easier it will be for the Republicans and their corporate masters to refer to the protesters as"hippies" now! Not that they were not already channeling the discriminatory vocabulary of their parents and grandparents from the 1960's in order to attack a movement that clearly scares them now, like those protests scared the Establishment back in the day.
Of course I don't see that as a bad thing. It took young people willing to speak truth to power back in the 60's to bring attention to an unjust war and out of control corporatism to foment a change (Short lived as it was.), and it clearly calls for a similar response today.
Perhaps Gryphen needs to go dig out his old tie-dye t-shirts, and rawhide headbands, and join the revolution.
But then again, haven't I always been part of it?
Were they filming him on their anti capitalist iPhones?
ReplyDeleteThey don't even know who Pete Seeger is.
ReplyDeleteNo, it would be protest if Phil Ochs were there. :(
ReplyDeleteBut I will take Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie! Haven't really known what to make of the latter since he registered as a Republican and supported Ron Paul... but he says he still supports unions, and this must prove it.
raw-hide headband - lol! those were the days! i was stomping around San Francisco and Big Sur back in the 60's. it's so great to see people united peaceably en masse. "we are the ones we've been waiting for".
ReplyDeleteTear are running down my cheeks. What memories those men bring back. Wow..at 92 he is able to walk that far and instill a sense of "rightness" to this whole movement.
ReplyDeleteMy dog was a little disturbed by my singing along with him. LOL. Haven't heard or even thought of that song for a long time.
For all that many of us say that the Baggers and Rethugs want to take the country back to the 'past' -- my first thought when I heard Seeger and Guthrie joining in OWS, was now OWS can be coined 'hippies' and compared to the 'past'.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see Seeger and Guthrie joining in as a 'bright light' for OWS. Who's next - Baez?
We all know who could knock this into the stratosphere if he would just appear and sing "Blowin' in the Wind". By the way, Pete Seeger is famous for trying to unplug the amplifiers at a certain legendary Newport Folk Festival, and I have never forgiven him for showing his arrogance at that historic event.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a hippie in the 60s/70s, but I protested the war, and I protested last week-end. I support OWS, and am excited that it has awaken the silent majority.
ReplyDeleteYou oldsters, remember that term? Silent Majority? We woke them up then & they're waking up now.
When you mess with someone's pocketbook, they take notice, & it's hard to lull them back to sleep.
12:02 - OWS isn't anti-capitalist. It is simply against capitalism gone mad, skewed for the benefit of only one class - the wealthiest.
ReplyDeleteBeing snarky is fine, but being stupid isn't. iPhones and other tech are actually enabling people to connect and realize they aren't the only ones suffering from the greed of the few.
Besides, why would it be wrong to use the instruments of the elite against the elite who try to suppress those who helped them create the technology? More power to OWS! It isn't a movement of just the young - it encompasses all socioeconomic classes, all ages and all who care about economic and social justice for every American. Snark that.
Shit, I thought Pete Seeger was my age...I'm fifty. Rock on Pete.
ReplyDelete12:05 - yeah, I know what you mean about Seeger. I love him but I don't understand his support of Ron Paul.
ReplyDeleteRon Paul is an empty-shirt, empty-headed symbol of something he doesn't even understand. Paul is wealthy and has been a physician, but he lacks empathy for others, compassion for those suffering, and is so filled with Ayn Rand nonsense that he cannot understand he has become what he most loathes. Or, perhaps, he has become the ultimate self-centered Rand character - one who pretends to stand for something other than his own interests completely unaware of or caring about the interests and needs of others.
Seeger may be registered as a Republican, but he has the heart of a socially empathic Democrat. He has not lost himself in himself as Paul has.
It's remarkable that Pete Seeger is able to participate in a 2011 protest. When he and Arlo performed together in the '70s, I had no idea who Seeger was, only that he performed with Woody Guthrie (!) back in the dust bowl days.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @12:03 is right; those who can't remember Vietnam won't know who Seeger is, and the fact that he protested during the original Great Depression will be lost on them.
The more I read, the more depressed I get. James Fallows links to a post by Steve Benen at the Washington Monthly on why Congressional GOP are in lockstep to plunge their approval rating to 0%:
"it is 100% in the Republicans' political interest to oppose anything the Administration proposes, even when they think the public likes the idea and will blame the GOP for standing in the way. Why? Even if the Republicans hurt their own popularity ratings, they hurt Obama and his administration more, by showing that he is 'weak' and can't 'get things done.' And of course press coverage that portrays this pattern not as a brilliantly destructive nihilisticscheme but rather as a mysterious caused-by-no-one snarl or failure, advances their ends."
Steve Clemons at the Atlantic notes that the U.S. is now 111th in world on bank soundness.
The Dems need to get some spine and really explain to Americans what bank deregulation has done to our economy, and the fact that we're 111th in the world in bank soundness sound pretty terrifying to me.
URLs:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/10/things-to-read-and-watch-this-weekend/247191/
http://twitter.com/#!/SCClemons/status/128130703371149313
Besides, why would it be wrong to use the instruments of the elite against the elite who try to suppress those who helped them create the technology
ReplyDelete------------------------
iPhones are the instruments of the elite?
Looks like you win the stupid crown for today.
I'm glad to see the older performers out there supporting this U.S. peaceful movement. Reminds me of days of old.
ReplyDeleteThe Repubs are having a real hard time w/this group. It is bigger than they thought and has exceeded the size of the teabaggers. Finally!
Voting out as many of the Repubs holding office - nationally, states and local governments - is a MUST this upcoming election. I cannot begin to imagine what will happen to the USA if they get back in office - especially on the national level.
Get out there voters and show your support of this peaceful mass of fellow citizens.
Andrew Sullivan has a GREAT piece on hippies and Occupy Wall Street here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/10/23/how-i-learned-to-love-the-goddamned-hippies.html
Can't agree with the comment about the outcome of the 60's and 70's protesting being "short lived."
ReplyDeleteIf you browse a Life Magazine from back then, you'll see the blatant prejudice against women and the dark skinned. While we did not obliterate all of that, the sudden jump into tolerance and understanding of the term EQUALITY, is amazing, in contrast.
The many improvements in environmental protection (which are now the target of the corporations trying to brainwash us into believing that if we allow them to ruin the planet, they'll create more jobs...har, har)--were another direct result of the "hippies" who were concerned about the future, as well as all mankind.
The very fact that most "hippies" fashioned themselves after the teachings of Jesus Christ, really tells you something about the extreme hatred coming from others (who try to TELL us they are all religious, but their "god" is represented by pieces of paper with pictures of former Presidents.)
ok, that's it - taking the kids to the OWS in my nearest big city tomorrow - who lese is getting off their couch?
ReplyDeletewow, lol......wonder if she keeps her job or finds another? talk about rude and crude.
ReplyDeleteMe thinks an apology is in order!
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-panel-gasps-as-fox-business-anchor-calls-joe-biden-numb-nuts/
I love me some Pete Seeger.
ReplyDeletePete Seeger is hardly a Republican:
ReplyDeleteObama Inaugural Celebration
On January 18, 2009, Seeger joined Bruce Springsteen, grandson Tao RodrÃguez-Seeger, and the crowd in singing the Woody Guthrie song "This Land Is Your Land" in the finale of Barack Obama's Inaugural concert in Washington, D.C.[24][25]
A-GODDAMN-MEN to that last paragraph - THIS is what America is - power to the people. Let's make change!
ReplyDelete12:02 - who said they/we were anti-capitalist?
Wow, just wow. 30 blocks with a walker. 92 years old. Committed to the cause. The Fox liars must be
ReplyDeletewondering how they counter this? Obama is an American, a Christian, has ended the Iraq war (wanna bet they now call it 'an occupation?', has been President while bin Laden and Qaddafi were killed, has stopped pirates, negotiated for prisoners, stopped torture, saved the American auto industry (hey Fox, where do you think GM and Chrysler would have taken their manufacturing businesses once they declared bankruptcy here?), is trying to make health care a right and not some elite privilege, and so many more. And in less than three years, the amount of time it took for Bush to vacation us right into 9-11, start two unfunded wars after untaxing his millionaire buds and sending us down the road to economic ruin. 2nd term? I'd say once Wall Street is brought to heel, he deserves to be King.
So powerful; I have tears in my eyes. Partly nostalgia and partly ineffable sadness that our country has come to this state again. I am the 99%.
ReplyDelete~physicsmom
OH great, a fucking hasbeen like Seeger to laught at now. Just what they need. Get a life you ignorant fool.
ReplyDeleteTruly hilarious calling them hippies like thats a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteYou know, the large group that stopped the Vietnam war.
Like that was a bad thing.
Forced Nixon to resign, like thats a bad thing.
rof. the rw will pull out any meme.
Idiots.
This is the generation of tek-hippie.
Rock On!
As a 60's person I say OWS You Rock.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you on your feet!
I know I'm going to get bitched out for this, but here goes.
ReplyDeleteLet me start by saying I support OWS 100%, and the message behind the movement. I also think once you start dusting off old hippies who come and perform, and dumb celebriites like Russell Brand start joining in, the protests completely jump the shark.
There are serious economic issues we need to overcome as a country, and a three ring circus in various cities is not going to solve that. Instead of standing around with signs, we need to volunteer locally in state and county elections to put more progressive democrats in office. Knock on doors, donate your time if not your money to phone bank, volunteer at voter registrations drives. OWS will mean absolutely NOTHING unless it translates into votes. Look at Wisconsin.
I worked my ass off to get my dem congressman reelected last year...he won by less than 1000 votes. We have a senate seat up for grabs here in VA next year, and I will work my ass off again to get Tim Kaine that seat, and volunteer for Obama.
Hippie protests are always fun, hell, look at the Rally to Restore Sanity. Hundreds of thousands of people out on the mall for a free concert meant absolutely nothing.
So go ahead and bash me now...but as a mom who works two part time jobs with a husband that works 6 days a week, I don't have time to waste standing around. We need ACTION, not inertia.
But is Pete Seeger one of the 99%? I suspect he's worth millions.
ReplyDeleteSee Frank Bruni
http://tinyurl.com/659ava8
The 'hippies' are why bad things have gotten changed over the years. They weren't willing to sit by and take the crap thrown at them.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of the population today are sheeple. Glad to see both the old and the young are "mad as hell and not going to take it anymore"!
I'd love to see all of the old folk singers show up there. Some are gone now, but it would do my old heart good to see those who can, participate.
An Old Hippie, and proud of it.
#occupyMARINES
ReplyDelete#occupyPolice
This is OT, but I have been hoping the person who did the Trig comparisons might do something new since the whole ear issue is being shot down by some people. I just checked the page and there is a new comparison! It has a couple pics of Trig which I have never seen.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/palinproject/6274284461/in/pho
tostream
The so called hippies revolted because of the draft. I was in college at the time and believe me the main concern of most men was not getting drafted. Many of our friends were coming back in body bags and we weren't convinced that the war was necessary. At first it was patriotic to enlist then it became apparent that the politicians were lying to us
ReplyDeleteYou have to go dig your tie dye out? I buy new every couple of years to keep the wardrobe up to date. Besides, the new dyes are more colorfast and magnificently bold!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteOH great, a fucking hasbeen like Seeger to laught at now. Just what they need. Get a life you ignorant fool.
3:57 PM
Sorry, but this post makes absolutely no sense to me. Someone has had one too many vodkas I am thinking. Just who are you addressing this anger toward? It surely adds nothing to the discussion and only makes you look like the fool yourself.
Rreally very touching. Nice.
ReplyDelete@ 3:57 = GO fuck your self with something sharp. Too late - I see you already have your pointy head up your ass about as far as it'll go, huh?
ReplyDeleteAnd Gryph - when you delete that comment insulting a 92 year old icon and American here - then you can delete this one as well.
Armchair quarterbacks who think they have a significant opinion about just who can participate in the Occupy Movement, are pretty laughable.
ReplyDeleteI was born in '66 and my generation is a bit more Bob Seger, than Pete Seeger, but I guess it's time to bring back the protest music!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteok, that's it - taking the kids to the OWS in my nearest big city tomorrow - who lese is getting off their couch?
2:37 PM
----------
I'll be working and my kids will be in school.
Exactly the problem AlbertLewis - it is very difficult to live an ethical life in the U.S. and not in some way be forced to be complicit in the unethical acts of global corporations.
ReplyDeleteMost actors/musicians at some point, have actually known hard times; suggest Frank and you check out Roseanne Barr's bio - sure wasn't silver spoon.
As for Seeger - you know nothing about him if you think he lives like a millionaire. First, he was raised in poverty. Then he and his wife lived off the land for years. He was blacklisted and had to take music teaching jobs to survive.
A lot of his performing was philanthropic - for programs like the Clearwater, World Hunger Year, and others.
Ditto for at least one of those joining him - Tom Chapin - whose brother Harry, was awarded a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for his work on social issues - mainly hunger, through World Hunger Year. The family has largely taken up Harry's work.
It's never about HAVING money anyway. It's how you got it and what you do with it.
Awaiting your apologies to Seeger et al.
For fuck sake, make up something about Palin. You obviously need to promise another iceberg or something. Or maybe tell us about your dotter and her wife and what they do to each other. Something that gets the interest of the lowlife who keep hoping to be thrilled on this hasbeen blog.
ReplyDeleteWhere did I put those beads, and my husband's wide collared colorful shirts? And my bell bottoms ... etc. And by the way, what is wrong with being a hippie?
ReplyDeleteAs a person lucky to live in the Hudson Valley, to see frequently meet Pete lumbering down Main Street in Beacon NY, all I have to say is: BRAVO, PETE, once again !!!!!
ReplyDeletePete Seeger is NOT a repug. Makes me laugh just thinking about it! Must be a faux news tale.
ReplyDelete:Sigh:
ReplyDeleteThis gave me chills, or flashbacks, warm and fuzzies... A 92 year old, iconic singer (Who rocked the world in my youth), dependant on walking aids, got up at midnight, AFTER performing at one venue, and marched thrity blocks while singing "We shall overcome" and "This little light of mine" to join a generation of new activists (most of whom would need to do a quick google search to satisfy their intellectual curiosity) is just amazing!
I remember things like apache ties, tie die, acrylic peace signs, black light posters, incesnse, hookahs, feather roach clips, hip huggers, and bullet belts, I wore my obligatory Vietnam Soldier's name i.d. bracelet and joined in protests and sit ins. "Hippie" is a complement as far as I'm concerened.
I'm just gobsmacked to hear he's 92 years old and keeps on truckin.
And The OWS kids of all ages are allright!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I see the tea trolls are out to play in the comments. I'd like to see any of their 2012 POTUS candidates walk 30 blocks for anything. Including their media types.
ReplyDeleteWatch Rush walk 30 blocks for a tea cause. Ha, that would be something also to see as he'd never bother to walk very far for for his easy chair talk.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteFor fuck sake, make up something about Palin. You obviously need to promise another iceberg or something. Or maybe tell us about your dotter and her wife and what they do to each other. Something that gets the interest of the lowlife who keep hoping to be thrilled on this hasbeen blog.
6:31 PM
Gryphen didn't have to post this but damn it was funny.
Anonymous 12:02 said..."Were they filming him on their anti capitalist iPhones?"
ReplyDeleteSpeaking out against corruption is not anti-capitalism. Demonstrating what direct, participatory, consensus-based democracy looks like in action is not anti-capitalism.
That is, unless you think corruption and direct democracy are the opposite of capitalism. Which is pretty sad if you do.
Virginia Voter: "Instead of standing around with signs, we need to volunteer locally in state and county elections to put more progressive democrats in office."
ReplyDeleteI've finally discovered that OWS isn't really a protest, so much as a demonstration of what it can look like when the people take back control. For example, their daily General Assemblies, and some events they have coming up, including a people's tribunal that will try Goldman Sachs for fraud. It's far more than just standing around with signs. As they say somewhere on their website, "We ARE our demands."
And while it would be nice to see more progressives in government, too many good men and women are eventually corrupted once they become part of the existing coin-operated political structure. Until big corporate money is taken out of politics, and until their is more authentic, direct democracy, not a lot is going to meaningfully change for the better.
The last time I sang this song was at my university chapel the day after Martin Luther King was assassinated. Now I'm crying.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Pete Seeger!!
ReplyDeleteI grew up listening to him! My child listens to him! I just love Pete Seeger!!
Anything he is behind - I am behind also.
I just LOVE Pete Seeger!!
P.S. Did I mention that I love Pete Seeger?
Pete Seeger will always be present at our protests, alive or passed along, until we no longer have need of protesting!
ReplyDelete