FREE Pussy Riot! Tribute
How do you feel about hooliganism?
That’s what arrested members of Pussy Riot!, a Moscow-based punk rock art collective, are going to jail for in Russia. Follow all things Pussy Riot at FreePussyRiot.org, Facebook, or Twitter.
If you want to support their protest fight for freedoms in Russia and stand with like-minded activists and artists here in SF, City Lights bookstore and The Feminist Press are hosting an evening in solidarity with PUSSY RIOT celebrating the release of the new book: Pussy Riot! A Punk Prayer for Freedom.
Here’s the story:
“On February 21, 2012, five members of a Russian feminist punk collective Pussy Riot staged a performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Dressed in brightly colored tights and balaclavas, they performed their “Punk Prayer” asking the Virgin Mary to drive out Russian president Vladimir Putin from the church… Three members of the collective… were arrested and charged with felony hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, an offense carrying a sentence of up to seven years. As the guilty verdict was anticipated, Pussy Riot responded with articulate, unwavering courtroom statements, calling for freedom of expression, an end to economic and gender oppression, and a separation of church and state. They were sentenced to two years in prison, and inspired a global movement.”
The book collects writings, courtroom statements, and other writings from band members. The evening at City Lights will include “readings, declamations, and manifestos” by Frightwig (Deanna Mitchell, Mia Simmans, Cecelia Kuhn, Eric Drew Feldman), Daphne Gottlieb, Penelope Houston (of The Avengers), Deborah Iyall (of Romeo Void), Sophia Kumin, and Michelle Tea.
The readings and performances are FREE, but all profits from the sale of the book go to the PUSSYRIOT defense fund.
Here’s an edited compilation of the now famous cathedral performance that got some members in prison:
PUSSY RIOT Tribute ! ! !
FREE
Wednesday, January 30
7:00 P.M.
City Lights Bookstore
North Beach
