By Allison Rivers
Pussy Riot
Yesterday (February 21) marked the one-year anniversary of Pussy Riot’s controversial non-violent protest in Moscow. A few days later, three members of the Russian feminist punk band were arrested and charged with “hooliganism.” Nadezhda “Nadya” Tolokonnikova, 23, and Maria “Masha” Alekhina, 24, still remain in custody and are serving sentences in brutal prison camps, away from their homes and their children. Amnesty International has named them “prisoners of conscience,” and their safety is a major concern.
Anti-Flag
Progressive punk band Anti-Flag recently teamed up with Amnesty International to release their own rendition of “Toast to Freedom,” a song released last year and recorded by 50 artists to commemorate Amnesty’s 50th anniversary. Anti-Flag’s performance protests the unjust jailing of the members of Pussy Riot. Proceeds from the track will go to benefit the work of Amnesty International.
For 50 years, Amnesty International has been fighting for human rights all over the globe by forcing stories of abuse into the international spotlight. They work to hold governments accountable for the basic freedoms and human rights of their people. The organization received the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize and the 1978 United Nations Prize and has become a recognizable and reliable name in the area of political and social activism.
Anti-Flag have a long history of social and political activism, having partnered in the past with organizations such as PETA, Greenpeace, Democracy Now!, and the Occupy Wall Street movement. They also formed their own activism groups including The Underground Action Alliance, Military Free Zone and The Bright Lights.
Not ones to stand down from supporting their fellow musicians, Anti-Flag continue to speak out against the unjust imprisonment of Pussy Riot. Jochen Wilms, music industry executive, activist, and co-producer (with Art for Amnesty founder Bill Shipsey) of the original star-studded “Toast to Freedom,” was present in the audience of Anti-Flag’s Berlin benefit concert for the jailed members of Pussy Riot in 2012. Anti-Flag agreed to record their own take on the song and enlisted the help of Billy Talent guitarist Ian D’sa, Bernd Kurtze (of Beatsteaks), and Donots to record the song in the legendary Hansa studio in Berlin.
The song is available here, and proceeds will go to benefit Amnesty International.
Check out Anti-Flag’s version of “Toast to Freedom:”
Take action and join Amnesty International in supporting Pussy Riot here.