STOP. Click this, and take a moment to feel really good. THIS is activism with a song in its heart.

[WilliamPitt]

Last edited Sat Jan 18, 2014, 07:17 PM - Edit history (2)

New Orleans has become a different town since Katrina. Gentrified, more affluent, with a whole bunch of new residents carving up old property that was washed out to sea.

And it seems these affluent new residents don't like all the pesky music going on, so they got the city council to consider an ordinance banning street musicians.

That's right. No street musicians. In New Orleans.

So they held a meeting on the ordinance...and the meeting was stormed by New Orleans jazz musicians with instruments in hand...who blew New Orleans jazz at the council while singing "Music ain't a crime!"...until the ordinance was taken off the table.

Story and video: http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/home/8128671-172/musicians-and-protesters-storm-city

Watch the video.

THAT, my friends, is how you do that.

[Duer 157099]

1. Sounds like a scene straight out of Treme

David Simon would be proud

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. David Simon KNEW

His stuff has always been based on non-fiction......The Wire, The Corner, and now, Treme.
The respect he showed in honoring the victims of Katrina was so clear.
I am sad that Treme is over, but that last episode left us feeling hopeful.

And sure enough...as the OP says.
Hot damn!!!!

[Baitball Blogger]

2. The band makes us proud to be Americans.

[In_The_Wind]

3. "Music ain’t a crime"

[El_Johns]

4. I don't know why people like that would move to New Orleans. They want a Disney version,

all pretty surfaces with "extras" who come out at approved times.

Same with people who move to the country & then complain about the smell of animal shit -- & I'm not talking factory farms.

[Morwen_Madrigal]

5. I'm here

fighting against this crap. I hate Carpet-baggers.

[malthaussen]

6. Some people would ban cheering at a football game.

Would like to have a tape of that impromptu concert, though.

-- Mal

[antigop]

7. Ha ha! LUV IT! Thanks. k&r nt

[LiberalElite]

8. Whenever the affluent

move in to areas that have been "discovered" by them I say "there goes the neighborhood"

[toby jo]

10. Wow. I lived in New Orleans one year - Metarie, worked at the Fairgrounds

with the thoroughbreds. That's one town in a class all its own. The musicians are the
best part. That, and the pride those folks put into Mardi Gras. There's alot of Indian blood and Creole. These folks have a history with that parade, books and stories that go way back. There's alot of - forget what you call it - where they speak in like a pidgin, a mix of stuff. It's pretty cool, it's own language. Then there's that stew they all eat - jumbo, or gumbo or something, everybody's got their own recipe.

Great place, try it on if you get a chance. (God just don't go in August, you'll melt.)

[johnp3907]

11. Ordnance?

They shot people for playing music???

[WilliamPitt]

13. HA!

Damn those pesky i's.

Been writing too much about guns of late, clearly.

Thank you.

[johnp3907]

14. I'm a jerk.

I was so busy cracking jokes about the malapropism that I forgot to rec this great story.

[WilliamPitt]

15. Now you've done two good things.

Thanks again.

[mountain grammy]

12. An unthinkable attack on everything that New Orleans is...

Music ain't a crime ever!!

[cinnabonbon]

16. I love that band. nt

[onethatcares]

17. net stop for the nasties

Branson Missouri where they will attempt to outlaw gambling.

[WilliamPitt]

18. Or San Francisco, where they will outlaw fog.