Pete Seeger and Pals Attend (Occupy Wall Street) NYC Protest Action

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Pete Seeger and pals attend NYC protest action

By CRISTIAN SALAZAR
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- Folk music legend Pete Seeger joined in the Occupy Wall Street protest Friday night, replacing his banjo with two canes as he marched with throngs of people in New York City's tony Upper West Side past banks and shiny department stores.

The 92-year-old Seeger, accompanied by musician-grandson Tao Rodriguez Seeger, composer David Amram, and bluesman Guy Davis, shouted out a veMrse as the crowd of about 1,000 people sang and chanted.

They marched peacefully over more than 30 blocks from Symphony Space, where the Seegers and other musicians performed, to Columbus Circle. Police watched from the sidelines.

At the circle, Seeger and friends walked to the chant of "We are the 99 percent" and "We are unstoppable, another world is possible." Seeger stopped to bang a metal statue of an elephant with his cane - to cheers from the crowd.


Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_WALL_STREET_PROTEST_SEEGER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-10-22-01-49-29

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Activist musician Pete Seeger, 92, center, sings before a crowd of nearly a thousand demonstrators sympathetic to the Occupy Wall Street protests at a brief acoustic concert in Columbus Circle, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, in New York. The demonstrators marched down Broadway singing "This Little Light of Mine" and other folk and gospel songs while ad-libbing lines about corporate greed and social justice. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

[aquart]

1. Really, it's the new in place.

[Ken Burch]

25. Tell me you did NOT just dis Pete Seeger

What did he ever do that could offend you?

[canyonguy]

28. RE: What did he ever do?

I have searched all posts and do not see a negative one- so what are you referring to? I hope no one gets censored here and I think Pete would agree with me.

[Ken Burch]

29. I was talking about aquart's "really, it's the new 'in place' remark".

It struck me that he was implying that Pete was just being trendy...as if anyone has the right to dismiss Pete in that way.

I'd be glad to find out that I was wrong if that poster would respond.

[aquart]

35. EXCUSE ME?

Celebrities are regularly turning up at Zuccotti Park. Even if you had no political understanding you might want to hang out there just to meet Olbermann or Mark Ruffalo or Rachel Maddow or Susan Sarandon or Kanye West or Russell Simmons or .... EVERYBODY is dropping by.

I find it bizarrely nasty-minded that you would call my mentioning that an insult to Pete Seeger. Or any of the others, come to think of it.

The celebrities aren't just bringing their photo-op faces down to encourage people and keep the news cycles featuring them, they're also writing hefty checks to keep them fed and dry.

It's a dis for Pete Seeger to visit #ows? WHO WOULD THINK THAT?

[Ken Burch]

36. Thanks for clarifying

It was the remark about it being "the trendy place to be" that had me wondering.

Whatever you can say about celebrities, Pete has never been about "trendiness". When I hear that word about OWS, it sounds like an effort to trivialize the event. Glad that's not what you meant.

Have a good Saturday.

[RoccoR5955]

44. No it's not. Pete is 92. He doesn't drive any more.

He had to have his grandson bring him down. DO NOT DIS MR. SEEGER! He has paid his dues to the movement with his pinky, than most have done in their whole life.
When you dis Pete, you dis the whole peace and justice movement.
I know the man. He does not do things because they are the "in" thing to do. He does them because he has a conviction to do them.

Pete has been part of the human rights movement since he was editor of the Harvard newspaper, back in the 30s. He continued with the Almanac Singers into the 40s, and the Weavers after that. The Weavers were put on the "communist" hit list by the House Committee on Unamerican Activities. When Pete's time came to testify, he was the only person who declared his rights of freedom of association under the First Amendment. The Weavers were banned from the mainstream for many years, until Pete performed on the Smothers Brothers Show. In the late 50s and early 60s he was involved in the Civil Rights movement. They nearly lynched him in Peekskill, NY. In the 60s and 70s he started the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, to clean up the Hudson River, which had become a toilet for both human and industrial waste. Today the river is clean. The organization is a boilerplate for many similar organizations across the planet. In the 80s and 90s Pete was active in the movement to get us off nuclear power, and has been a proponent of renewable energy. His home in the Hudson Valley is solar powered. This past winter, when people were demonstrating in Wisconsin, Pete was at several local union rallies, fighting to equality for the working class. Most Saturdays, when he's in town, you can find him on the corner of route 9 and 9D, protesting these awful wars that this country is involved in.

Pete is one of the most humble people around, never wanting to take any credit for any of his great accomplishments. There are not many people who are as humble as he is.

That's just a little about my good friend, and comrade in arms. If you dis him, you dis me, and I will defend him to the ends of the universe.

I don't know what else to say about Grandpa, as we like to call him around here. He deserves the utmost respect from each and every one of us. If ever there was a TRUE American Patriot in my lifetime, Pete Seeger is that person!

[UnrepentantLiberal]

59. That is the meaning of community.

We've been ruled by goons for too long.

[Lithos]

69. Thanks

:thumbsup:

Pete is a hero of mine from a long time back.

[xchrom]

2. Awesome. Nt

[saras]

3. One of the best things that ever happened to America was blacklisting Pete Seeger...

...because of the blacklist, he spent a decade mostly working in the school system, where he influenced a hell of a lot more people than he would have as a radical folksinger. I just can't see TFA letting Pete Seeger in, though.

[K8-EEE]

4. |A true American treasure! nt

[UnrepentantLiberal]

dupe

[UnrepentantLiberal]

5. It must make him very happy to see young Americans taking a stand.

[femrap]

20. I bet it does...

us old Protesters are overwhelmed to see OWS...I haven't felt such hope since Nixon resigned.

[lunatica]

23. I'm a Boomer and I love the OWS young people!

I'm so proud of them.

[femrap]

26. And it's

nice to see that the OWS movement crosses all segments of society. I have been waiting for this all of my life, I guess.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

62. I never thought it could happen.

So great that those damn liberal celebrities are making sure that it stays vibrant. No wonder right wingers bash Hollywood. This right here is what they've feared all along.

[femrap]

66. Pete Seger and his

entourage gave me goosebumps....never thought I would see it.

I truly feel that the Planet is/has turned on its axis....I believe life will get better. And I haven't thought that for decades.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

61. I'm Generation X. (The punk rock generation.)

So I've spent my adult life with an apathetic populous. I might love them even more than you do.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

60. Isn't it great?

I like that they put boomers at the front of the march. These aren't a bunch of mindless punks. They really do care. I'm so glad that I moved to Jersey City four years ago so that I can march in solidarity with them. (And be arrested by the man on the Brooklyn Bridge... It was funny when I texted my girlfriend and told her that I was about to be hauled off in a paddy wagon. She called me and said "please tell me you're joking." Then she thought it was funny. "Well as long as you're enjoying yourself." :-)

[femrap]

67. Very great....

You get a medal for you arrest...I would put it on my resume!!!

[UnrepentantLiberal]

6. dupe

[classof56]

7. Oh, the memories Pete Seeger evokes!

What a blessing he has been in so many lives--mine for one. Keep going, Pete. You're a true inspiration!

Peace.

[polichick]

8. This is wonderful!!! k&r

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Somehow, I knew he would be there.

At 92. He's a life-long activist, pacifist, and a socialist who was Blacklisted in the 1950's. Fascinanting person.

[dbt]

10. 92 years on this Earth and it takes him TWO canes to walk...

yet he still has the strength to go where he belongs. Springsteen, Fogerty, R. Cash, Grace Slick: where y'all at?

:loveya: Pete Seeger!

[Botany]

11. Guantanamera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5JLCAIJLJ8

[rug]

12. Excellent!

[mdmc]

13. dude deserves a NOBEL

[No Elephants]

37. +1

[riverwalker]

14. video of Pete Seeger at OWS last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IPd_OkeVtI

beautiful.

[femrap]

21. Thx for posting

that YouTube. Tears to my eyes.

[morningglory]

41. Thanks for posting that. I am so glad he lived to see it. nt

[NBachers]

72. Thank you for posting that link

I get goosebumps- My love, respect, and admiration of Pete Seeger is boundless- we are blessed to have him with us.

[jimlup]

15. Seeger is a link back to a proud tradition!

It is great to see the two movements linked - past and present! Woody is happy.

This Land is OUR Land!

[Generic Other]

16. That is so heartwarming to see

It is not easy for someone his age to endure the cold and the threat of violence. I salute him for taking a stand.

[flamingdem]

17. I so wish I could have been there

Pete looking good at 92

[Chorophyll]

18. Pete Seeger is an institution unto himself here in the Hudson Valley.

I love him. He's amazing. Nothing gets him down.

[RoccoR5955]

49. Damn right he is. He's everyone's grandpa here in the Valley!

We all love him. When ever he comes around, it's like sunshine.

[Chorophyll]

78. You said it! :) nt

[pmorlan1]

19. Brings a Tear to My Eye

Pete Seeger is such a wonderful human being. I'm so glad that he was able to attend OWS. What a history.

[jwirr]

22. First started listening to Pete Seegers as part of the Weavers back

in the 40s and this today is a connection to it all. I am so glad to see him there. We shall overcome.

[jimlup]

24. Woody is smiling /nt

[nolabear]

27. Heroes! I am so inspired by their bravery and conviction.

I cannot feel good to walk 30 blocks at age 92. But he can because he always has, and I FEEL his support and presence as this counrty has limped along, trying to learn how to demand equality and justice for all. I'm proud that the first concert (outdoors) my now twenty-seven-year-old son went to, at age six weeks, was Pete and Arlo.

Blessings to all who persevere.

[Eric J in MN]

30. Banks of Marble

Old recording of Pete Seeger singing "Banks of Marble:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-o3CJytIPE

[No Elephants]

45. How appropriate. Thanks.

[RoccoR5955]

63. Banks of Marble was the "theme song"

to the recent WAMC fund raiser. The Albany NPR affiliate has three fund raisers a year. They only raise funds until the goal is reached then they go back to normal programming. Since this is within the Hudson Valley, home to Seeger, and the CEO holds Seeger as a hero, this song was played time and again during the fund drive which ended Thursday. They raised one million dollars in ten days, a record for the station.

Though WAMC is an NPR affiliate, they have a lot of programming that they produce right there. They even distribute some of it around the country. Check out http://www.wamc.org for more info on the station.

[No Elephants]

77. Cool. Thanks for the info.

The banks in my neighborhood all did away with the marble and the brass teller's cages. And the big round, brass door to the vault.

They were all in excellent physicalshape, so I thin k they did it for other reasons.

[judesedit]

31. This land is your land. This land is my land. Not corporation's land

Aside from bilking the American people of billions of dollars, lobbyists of big corporations care nothing about destroying the land, the water, the air and it's about time people start speaking against unregulated corporate greed. This too big to fail bullshit has to be stopped somehow. Corporations are NOT people and should NOT have the rights of people. It's time to get the money OUT of politics....for good! There have to be some intelligent, ethical, goal-oriented people in this country that would love to help get this country back in shape. Let's vote them into office. Get rid of the patsies. Thank you, Pete, for caring so much, at 92 you got off your butt and marched, canes and all in the cold for blocks for this cause. God bless you.

[WillyT]

32. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce:

:hi:

:kick:

[unionworks]

33. I Love Pete Seeger

This has to make him feel good!

[rosesaylavee]

34. K & R

Quote I gleaned from a PBS special (I think) on him a few years back:

"Participation is what is going to save the Human Race." ~ Pete Seeger

He's one of my heroes. So glad he's supportive of OWS and not at all surprised to see him there. I hope I am as active at 92.

[RoccoR5955]

52. Pete is a hero to the citizens of Planet Earth! n/t

[No Elephants]

38. A national treasure.

[Taverner]

42. Yup. Up there with Yosemite and Bob Dylan

:thumbsup:

[No Elephants]

46. I love Dylan, but he is not close to Seeger.

[Taverner]

47. Perhaps - but he is a national treasure, no?

[No Elephants]

48. Depends upon your criteria.

I saw the PBS specials on each one.

They are very different men.

As I said, I am a big fan of Dylan. And I am among those who do think his lyrics are poetry. But, IMO, Seeger is in a class by himself, in my opinion.

[Taverner]

56. Seeger walks the walk

Dylan talks the talk

Dylan is a better talker

Seeger is a better walker

[No Elephants]

75. Well..

In the PBS special I saw, Dylan claimed that social justice was never really his goal.

I am not sure I even fully believe that, as to his early years, but I would say that Dylan certainly dedicated a lot less of his life to social justic than has Seeger.

Seeger enlisted in WWII and used his voice for miners, farmers, unions, the civil rights movement, poor people generally, the environment, etc. all his life. And not just by writing songs that made him money, but by showing up at march after march and demonstration after demonstration--even creating demonstrations if no one else did.

Dylan has not really dedicated himself to that extent, or over a long period of time.

[Taverner]

79. Look, Dylan may be no Seeger. I'd agree with you. But they are both national treasures.

If we didn't have either of them, the world wouldn't be as liveable

[morningglory]

39. "Like"

I have been thinking about Pete Seeger. In knew he would make it somehow. I love to see him lift his chin and blast the powers that be.

[No Elephants]

51. His brother said on PBS that a vocal expert had told Seeger that he

would ruin his voice if he kept singing in that position.

But, he kept doing it anyway.

[morningglory]

68. He'll probably die young from doing that. nt

[No Elephants]

76. That's okay with me, as long as it's not for another fifty or sixty years.

His brother said it did affect his voice, though.

Me, I have no idea. I just took his brother at his word.

[Taverner]

40. Pete Seeger is THE MAN

Ninety fucking two????

Damn - I want to live like HE lives!

[gratuitous]

43. U.S. Postal Service, please make Pete Seeger the first living American on a stamp

NOBODY living in the United States right now deserves that honor more.

[RoccoR5955]

53. He deserves so much more than that! n/t

[earcandle]

50. Thank you Pete! Music is so powerful! Love you!

[DontTreadOnMe]

54. Pete Seeger is my hero!

The World needs more Mr. Seegers.

[FailureToCommunicate]

55. At Clearwater festivals you'd sing with Pete till the wee hours, then he

would get up and start mopping the dining hall floor. A few bleary hours later as you staggered out of a tent, Pete would already be up -picking up litter from the grounds.
You ask ask him how he's doing, he'd always say "Strugglin' on, strugglin' on"

He's the energizer bunny...
and of course a national treasure!

[RoccoR5955]

58. I will attest to that.

I have been volunteering for the main Clearwater Festival in Croton for more than thirty long years. There's a reason it's called "The Great Hudson River Revival."
And it's not just Pete. It's the spirit that is brought along with everyone working together, to keep the Hudson River clean, as well as the rest of our Mother Earth.

[FailureToCommunicate]

64. Howdy!

I was fortunate enough to get to perform there -morris dancing (one year to Martin Carthy's percussive playing!)
and selling records of many of the performers as RoundUp Records (Rounder)

Oh and thanks for all your work - the River looks a lot better!!

:hi:

[marasinghe]

74. Hey Rocco, you guys done real good with the Clearwater Revival, all these years.

around the time i first came to NY, my girlfriend who lived in NJ that time, found me going into the odd trance now & then - listening to "Where have all the Flowers gone?" & "Guantanamera", which have been favorites of mine since i was 13; so she took me to that year's Hudson Clearwater Revival & I heard Mr. Seeger singing live for the first time.

Since then, i've been following the Clearwater Revival from the sidelines; and, like i said, Well Done, Friend.

Peace

[evrstrong]

57. Wish I'd been there...

Someone has already said it, but this story has brought tears to my eyes!

I have thought about him over the last few weeks as well, and I can hardly imagine him not showing up...he has always been such a huge part of the justice movement!

Bless you, Pete http://youtu.be/CXXO113ILV8

[unkachuck]

65. How can you not love Pete Seeger; and at 92!....n/t

[defendandprotect]

70. K/R --- Wonderful -- !!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

71. Pete's a national treasure

Always fighting the good fight.

[marasinghe]

73. k&r for my hero, Mr. Seeger.

from the 40's to now - he's kept the faith.
if there were gods on Mt. Olympus -
Pete would be the god of Love, Peace & Music.