• About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
Saturday, January 23, 2021
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Arts & Culture
  • Videos
  • COVID-19
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Arts & Culture
  • Videos
  • COVID-19
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home Labour

Fredericton activists: “I can’t keep quiet”

by Sophie M. Lavoie
May 15, 2017
2 min read
Fredericton activists: “I can’t keep quiet”

Songs of Protest participants included local activists and Fredericton South MLA David Coon. Photo by Norm Laverty.

Twenty local enthusiasts recently joined voices in solidarity against oppression, corruption and patriarchy.

Closing out a 10-day festival with flair, singer-songwriter Moon Joyce hosted an evening of song on May 7th, organized by Reproductive Justice New Brunswick (RJNB). The event was part of the 2017 Mayworks Fredericton Festival, a festival of working people and the arts.

The Songs of Protest event, organized by Mary Milliken of RJNB, also a singer in her own right, was meant to bring together activists and diversify the repertoire of songs and chants used during demonstrations.

Participants formed a circle, and after a brief voice warm up, were put to work by Moon Joyce, learning a number of traditional and more recent songs. Participants ranged from inexperienced to expert singers.

Along with old standards like “Bread and Roses” by James Oppenheim, participants sang a reworked version of “Still Ain’t Satisfied,” originally written by Bonnie Lockhard. It was altered to fit some of the ongoing battles in the province such as reproductive rights, forestry issues and refugee sanctuary.

Joyce also brought a songs based on African-American Gospel called “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” and the Pat Humphries song “Never Turning Back.” Most songs had repetitive elements which allowed for rapid learning and adaptation, and the varied voices were complemented with joyous foot stomping, clapping, Joyce’s guitar and drum.

The last tune the group tackled was the most challenging, a recent song from the Trump inauguration, written and scored by Connie Lim (known as Milck). With its lyrics featuring repetitions of “I can’t keep quiet,” it is an anthem for a new generation of activists.

Deeply committed to social justice, Moon Joyce, a local, musician, artist and educator is author of a number of songs, including “We are Whole and We are Holy,” a song originally written to commemorate the lives of those dying of AIDS in the nineties. This type of song can be adapted to remember different groups, including most recently, the missing and murdered Indigenous women and children. Moon Joyce also generously sang one of her songs for the group present.

Participants really enjoyed the workshop with Joyce and most voiced the hope for renewing this event in the future and making local demonstrations more varied in the way they make demands.

Sophie M. Lavoie is an organizer with Reproductive Justice NB. 

Tags: David CoonMayworksMoon JoyceReproductive Justice NBRJNBsliderSongs of ProtestSophie M. Lavoie
ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

Axed bus routes blamed on Higgs’ refusal to accept public transportation funds
Economy

Axed bus routes blamed on Higgs’ refusal to accept public transportation funds

January 14, 2021

Maritime Bus plans to cut routes in New Brunswick due to the province's refusal to grant subsidies to the struggling...

Opposition Day features a bold display of male power against abortion access in the New Brunswick Legislature
*Opinion*

Opposition Day features a bold display of male power against abortion access in the New Brunswick Legislature

December 18, 2020

On Thursday, Dec. 17, Liberal MLA Isabelle Thériault (Caraquet) introduced a motion urging the government to remove existing legislation that...

“We are caretakers of the land”: Blueberry harvest about more than income
Arts & Culture

“We are caretakers of the land”: Blueberry harvest about more than income

December 2, 2020

Indigenous participants in Maine's blueberry harvest might see the end of a longtime tradition with lasting impacts for Indigenous culture....

Theatre St. Thomas tackles timely play about Chilean refugees
Arts & Culture

Theatre St. Thomas tackles timely play about Chilean refugees

December 1, 2020

A play by a Chilean author who was exiled to Canada in the seventies is still relevant today to confront...

Load More

Recommended

Sackville councillors take aim at glyphosate spraying, but stop short of calling for a ban

Sackville councillors take aim at glyphosate spraying, but stop short of calling for a ban

3 years ago
Taking back our resources – A letter from New Brunswick’s future #7

Taking back our resources – A letter from New Brunswick’s future #7

2 years ago

What can the lockdown teach us about reducing carbon emissions?

5 months ago
Housing in the Time of Coronavirus [video]

Housing in the Time of Coronavirus [video]

7 months ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join/Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In