| This small suggestion of music soon turned our small little rally into a major undertaking. One person in the group knows Tom Chapin (brother of Harry Chapin), the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter. What if we could get him to perform a song? We might get, maybe 100-200 people at our rally, which meant we needed a bigger park.
Shortly thereafter, I got permission from the Village of Nyack to use their spacious Memorial Park and its bandstand and gazebo in hopes that Tom Chapin would come. No sooner than the village board gave us permission, Chapin agreed to perform. Well, we still had a few weeks to go to the rally, so we thought we should get a few more bands. Almost instantly, we got Emory Joseph (who wrote the track "Trinkets" for Bonnie Raitt's album Soul's Alike) and another local band.
Many of us wanted to stop there, but a few of us thought, "wouldn't it be great for Pete Seeger to come." Seeger, in addition to being a national treasure, is a beloved local icon in the Lower Hudson Valley. He's a charming, well-spoken activist in addition to being one of the greatest legends of folk music. We talked to all our friends until we found someone that knew someone that knew Pete Seeger.
And then we called and then we mailed him a working copy of our flyer...and then...unbelievably...Pete Seeger said he'd love to perform.
I then I wrote a bunch of press releases sent them out...and wow, our little rally is now a big rally which we've jokingly nicknamed it "Healthstock."
We've now got six musical acts and seven speakers. My congressman is coming as are many of the regional politicians. Three local papers and several Internet sites have picked it up. We were mentioned on public radio and on Air America. The Travel Channel is coming to film it. Billionaires for Wealth Care said they're coming to stage a mock protest. There will surely be at least one or two of the local television news outlets coming, too. Even better, nearly everyone I know is coming and they're excited about it (and I know a lot of people).
I don't want to count my chickens just yet, it could yet rain or maybe everyone will decide that watching a Jets or Giants game is more important. But I'm still extremely amazed by what a few frustrated people sitting in a living room can accomplish if they channel their energy positively. We hope this rally will reach enough media outlets and enough people to convince others not to be afraid of the teabaggers and their bullying tactics. Perhaps many others will be inspired to come out and stand strong for real health care reform. And maybe, just maybe, we can help keep this momentum going for those who need reform so desperately.
Anyway, if anyone here is interested in coming, here's the info:
Health Care For All Rally
Oct. 4
4:30 pm-7:30 pm.
Memorial Park, 53 Piermont Ave (at Depew Ave.)
Nyack, NY
Public information line: (845) 512-3261
(Pete Seeger should be playing a bit after dusk) |
