The Passion of Pussy Riot

[sheshe2]

People of western democracies can learn a lot from the riot grrrl art collective



Two years ago this February, five members of the Russian anti-Putin art collective known as Pussy Riot performed a “punk prayer” at the altar of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. The song they belted out was a plea for the Virgin Mary to remove Vladimir Putin from power just weeks before his re-election.


Days after the demonstration, three of the members were arrested, charged with “hooliganism” and denied bail. After a speedy and one sided trial, Judge Syrova found Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alyokhina guilty of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred” and sentenced them to two years in prison.


The three women had insisted there was no intention of offending Russian Orthodoxy, but wanted to bring attention to the church’s close ties to the state. “Our goal was to bring attention to Father Kirill’s public statements that the Orthodox must vote for Putin,” Alyokhina wrote in a lettered statement “I thought the church loved its children. It turns out the church only loves those children who believe in Putin”.


A little over two years later to the day, during the middle of the Sochi Olympics, Tolokonnikova & Alyokhina along with three other members of the group attempted twice to film a video for a song called “Putin Will Teach You to Love the Motherland.” On the first attempt, they were arrested along with 15 others before they got a chance to play. The next day the group was beaten by uniformed Cossacks working in a security capacity for the Olympics.

snip

What we need to do is follow in Pussy Riot’s example, sometimes a simple act of civil disobedience can galvanize a movement—look at Rosa Parks.

Read More: http://quietmike.org/2014/02/28/passion-of-pussy-riot/

[Cleita]

1. I don't think Americans have guts for it anymore.

In the sixties they did. I don't know when we got so afraid.

[sheshe2]

2. And I believe they do. I know they do.

It's not a single group that is standing, it is a collective group. They are not afraid to be heard, nor am I.

Haven't you been watching?

North Carolina’s Moral Monday Movement Kicks Off 2014 With a Massive Rally in Raleigh
February 10, 2014

http://billmoyers.com/2014/02/10/north-carolina%E2%80%99s-moral-monday-movement-kicks-off-2014-with-a-massive-rally-in-raleigh/

80,000 people protested in NC this weekend. Here’s why.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/02/10/why-tens-of-thousands-of-people-were-rallying-in-raleigh/

How the Internet and abortion rights won in Texas

http://www.dailydot.com/politics/wendy-davis-filibuster-texas-sb5/

That's only a few~

[Cleita]

3. How many are willing to go to prison for two years or be maced,

or beaten with whips. The problem is unless bottles are broken and other vandalism committed, society and the MSM ignore them here in the USA and the protestors go unheard.

[davidn3600]

12. Look what happened to Occupy Wall Street

The elites wont ever allow anything to challenge them.

I always find it funny when you see civil uprisings in other countries and the government/police/military attacks the citizens, and then our President stands up to the podium and talks about freedom and how the world is watching the atrocities those governments are committing and there will be consequences. etc. etc... But if that kind of uprising was happening in America...you damn well better believe this government of ours would be doing the exact same thing.

[Cleita]

13. You are right and I think it makes people hesitant to stand up.

When we get as desperate as those other people. When being tortured, imprisoned and even killed starts to be as bad as your life. Then you try for change.

[dembotoz]

4. i really admire them

[Cha]

5. Kick!

[postatomic]

6. Pussy Riot definitely pushes the envelope

Not referring to the above mentioned events, but things they've done in the past.

I don't have a problem with them at all, but you'd have a hard time motivating people to commit acts of civil disobedience based on their platform.

Here we just make 'cute' signs and stand on sidewalks.

[seattledo]

7. Are we allowed to put offensive words in titles here?

Just asking because I know a lot of us use this site at work.

[William769]

9. Thats the name of the group.

Kind of hard to change that.

[freeplessinseattle]

14. Then better not read CNN or ABC news sites! I've seen them both use the full name in titles

So if anyone gives you any guff, just Google for mainstream sites with the group name in the title. If they can handle it!

Seattle, so hard to predict sometimes what is ok or oh so wrong!

[William769]

8. I love these ladies and what they stand for.

They are hero's in my book!

[sheshe2]

11. Women rock, William!

We always have.

Who better to have your back than those who understand what equality is all about. Inside the LGBT community or outside, we all have strength.

Pussy Riot, they are indeed heroes, I made up another name a while ago. They are sheroes!

[awoke_in_2003]

10. K&R

They have spine