Journey to Justice sings songs of civil rights and social justice
On Wednesday July 23rd Journey to Justice and friends sang songs of the civil rights movement and international peace on the South Bank. We were led by the fabulous UCLU Jazz Vocals, stars of our launch event in June and the Big Red Band. Songs included We Shall Overcome, The Hammer Song, I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free, There Is Power In A Union, A Change is Gonna Come, Motherless Child and Oh Freedom. (You can read about the some of the songs’ history here).Passersby gathered to watch, join in and applaud. Ironically we weren’t allowed to unfurl our magnificent banner (see launch photos), hand out leaflets or collect for the crowdfunding campaign, but we did link up with our partners in Newcastle, Songs Protest Rhythm & Rhyme in the Mining Institute. And at 7.05pm just as we’d planned, we sang Solidarity Forever at the same time! https://www.facebook.com/songprotestrhythmrhyme
Why sing? Music has always been at the heart of social justice and protest, everywhere. It brings hope, strength and unity. We sing in solidarity with those who work for social justice in the UK and those who try to build peace and understanding in the face of human rights abuses, hate and war everywhere – CAR, Ethiopia, Gaza, Israel, Iraq, North Korea, Russia, Syria and the Ukraine. ‘Without music, the civil rights movement would have been a bird with no wings’ (Congressman John Lewis)
Filming by Rebecca Polden-Churchill Photos by Bethany Hunt
