Reverend Billy To Have Winter Residency At Joe's Pub 'And Then They Came For All Of Us'
By: Stephi Wild Oct. 18, 2018
The activists-who-sing are back at Joe's Pub for an all-too-necessary revival. Reverend Billy and The Church of Stop Shopping Choir's new performance piece "And Then They Came For All of Us" refers both to the familiar poem by Martin Niemöller and to the detainment of courageous Stop-Shopping Choir member, director of the New Sanctuary Coalition - and victim of Trump-era fear-mongering - Ravi Ragbir. Ravi and four other immigrant choir members of the troupe have either been forcibly deported or are actively fighting to stay.
In the work of the secular Church of Stop Shopping, the content of the group's songs, rituals and talks is not simply dramatic performance but activism in the field. In 2018, the director of the Church's performances, Savitri D, along with singers Monica and Dragonfly, were arrested occupying the silver globe at the Trump International Hotel at Columbus Circle. Before they were detained, they preached movingly about unethical deportation to thousands of onlookers below. In another recent action, six of the Choir's singers were arrested after confronting the prison vehicle carrying Mr. Ragbir from the federal building at Foley Square to ICE's Varick Street Detention Center. This summer, the Reverend and Choir led parades in Athens, Greece under the banner of #TouristsAgainstTrump, inspiring refugees and European tourists to dance together in the streets under the Acropolis.
Throughout the five weeks of the Joe's shows, the Church of Stop Shopping will continue to offer concerts and prayers to undocumented families currently under sanctuary protection inside New York City churches.
In support of the Choir's many allies, who may have found 2018 not only intellectually and emotionally but also financially draining, Joe's Pub has waived their table minimum policy for these matinees. While full-priced ticket purchase helps support the work that the Choir will do in 2019, discount $10 tickets for those that need them may be purchased with the code CHANGENOW.
Tickets are available here:
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