It is important for artists and musicians to use their voices to demand justice, equality and democracy
As we celebrate the successes of Occupy Wall Street and consider the lessons we learned, it is important for artists and musicians to use their voices to demand justice, equality and democracy at a time when these ideals are being threatened by a political and economic system which rewards wealthy power brokers and sycophants in the media while punishing the trans population, people of color, immigrants, the working class, and folks living in poverty.
My music video “Battle In Seattle” includes photos and images from the Occupy Wall Street protests in Seattle, New York City, Chicago and many other communities across the nation where people joined together to oppose the influence of money on our political system, including the government bail outs of corporate entities funded by US taxpayers.
I performed my song in Seattle at various encampments and at numerous protest rallies in the region.
Here’s a link to the music video for “Battle In Seattle”:
An audio version is available at Soundcloud:
https://m.soundcloud.com/mark-
My music video “Mother Freedom” also includes footage of protests from around the planet including the Black Lives Matter protests in the US and activists demanding freedom and justice in Nigeria, Belaruse, Singapore, etc.
Audio only version at Bandcamp:
https://marktaylorcanfield.
My life has been transformed by political protest movements including the demonstrations in Seattle against the World Trade Organization, anti-war protests, Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, protests against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, and the current No Kings marches and rallies opposing Trump’s authoritarian regime.
These movements have influenced and informed my political sensibilities and inspired me to lead an activist’s lifestyle, taking on the status quo and speaking truth to power.
In Seattle circa 1999, throughout the Occupy Wall Street movement, and during the anti-racist/anti-police brutality BLM movement I joined with altruistic protesters who wanted to change the world. We occupied public property, took to the streets and refused to go home despite the widespread use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and other projectile weapons deployed by out of control law enforcement agencies. The smell of tear gas followed us everywhere and the sounds of police sirens and media helicopters became the daily soundtrack of our lives.
Yes, we were often frightened by widespread examples of rampant police brutality, but still we persisted in our mission to make the world a better, more equitable, more compassionate and peaceful place to live.
One of my cherished memories was the day that I met Dr. Cornel West for the first time at the Occupy Seattle encampment located at Seattle Central Community College.
I asked him, “How are you?” and he replied something like,
“I don’t think the revolution is happening today, but I have hope.”
When I told him I was working with the Occupy Seattle Media group he humorously warned me,
“Watch out, they might give you your own radio show!” (referring to his public radio gig with Tavis Smiley.)
A few years later I had the opportunity to interview him while I was serving as Executive Director for our non-profit Democracy Watch News. I informed him that he was partially correct in his prediction about my future because now I’m a correspondent for the Thom Hartmann program and I appear every week as a guest on the Jeff Santos Show broadcasting nationally from Boston on the radio network and livestreaming on Youtube, TikTok, etc.
Dr. West was delighted to hear about my broadcast journalism and music projects. He encouraged me to continue my activism and I consider him to be one of my role models. The occupy movement brought out some of the best in all of us!
During the protests I rented an apartment on Capitol Hill which became a haven for activists who needed food, rest, showers, etc.
I got to know people’s personal stories and shared their trials and tribulations, as well as the good times – including therapeutic music sessions when I taught folks how to play guitar.
Those beautiful experiences are invaluable. I will never forget the determined look on the faces of the Occupy Wall Street activists as they stood up against a hostile police department and spineless neo-liberal politicians who ordered their arrest and evicted us from Westlake Park and SCCC. I tried to document these life changing experiences and bold impressions with my writing and music.
Protesters finally occupied an abandoned building near Broadway, but SPD commandeered a fire department ladder truck and broke into the warehouse through the ceiling while carrying assault rifles.
I remember calling local TV news stations and the Seattle Times to report the incident but I was told that no reporters were available at that late hour to cover the arrests.
Police had several blocks around the warehouse cordoned off. As a result, no one was allowed to get close enough to document that extremely aggressive raid by Seattle police.
During this time we all shared food, first aid supplies and news from other occupations taking place across the planet. It was a heady time of great memories which I will never forget!
Earlier, I had been compelled to write a song about my past experiences so I began performing it at the OWS encampments and rallies. The response was very positive so we made a music video and uploaded it to Vimeo and Youtube.
I continue to receive great responses from audiences with the song “Battle Of Seattle” which I hope to perform during the 15th anniversary celebration at Zuccotti Park.
Thank you to all the brave, innovative activists, journalists and artists who participated in this historic movement. The work is not finished…
Solidarity!
P.S. – The music video “Battle In Seattle” is also available as a live performance in my recording studio located near the Space Needle. The song was my entry in NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Contest.
Mark Taylor-Canfield serves as Executive Director for the non-profit Democracy Watch News. He is a journalist, musician, writer and actor listed in Who’s Who In America. Mark is a former writer at Huffington Post and is a correspondent for the Thom Hartmann program. He’s a weekly guest on the Jeff Santos Show broadcasting from Boston on a national radio network and livestreaming on Youtube, TikTok, etc. The MTC Report and his original music videos are available at his Youtube channel. https://youtube.com/c/
Website: https://mtc2010usa.wixsite.
https://democracywatchnews.org
