How would you improve your community?
Last Saturday I got my Saxophone back out of the case to play some second line tunes and protest songs with the Local 802 (NYC musicians union) in the ‘No Kings March’.
It was empowering to be part of such a huge crowd and see so many smiling faces. People really appreciated our presence and we bonded nicely over locking into these old songs. They were also a reminder that these situation is not new. Solidarity forever, down by the riverside, Do whatcha wanna! Ain’t goin a study war no more! The struggle is as old as humanity and will never truly stop.
After we disbanded at Times Square, myself and one of the drummers jumped onto another group of protest musicians and young organizers and flowed with them down to 34th Street. From there I walked with another group of people, picking up the songs they were singing and ‘blowing’ my sax creatively to enhance their chanting. They were happy and grateful to keep the good energy alive.
I played my horn all the way while walking home from 23rd Street to Tompkins Square Park. Downtown was quiet, but I got a few thumbs up and friendly looks from people in the streets as I was quoting Coltrane and playing Forro Melodies and generally just enjoying my old friend the Saxophone for still being there for me after years in the case.
I packed her up in Tompkins Square Park and called it a day. A good one. It ended 3 weeks of doom scrolling and general anxiety and put me back on the course of LIFE. It needs to be lived. You have to grow up and show up. It demands your attention in the here and now. Not in the what if’s… and ‘Did you know’s’…. Life is Live…. Nah nah nah nah LIFE!!!
I’m also proud to report that I am 98% done with my course on Psychedelic Mentorship with the Onaya Research Group and have experienced a great sense of
Community with my fellow cohort members and the Fascilitators as well. It’s all about raising awareness about the colonization of indigenous practices and general corporate takeover of community and human relationships. We have to ‘free our minds so that our ass will follow’. One step at a time. It’s cumbersome but so rewarding. I can’t wait for the next protest. It will be massive. We are always stronger when the need to act becomes imperative. Now’s the time. Let us not waste it on complaining and desperation. Solidarity forever because the Union makes us strong!
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