Close the Camps Choir Protest
Donation protected
One day in late July, Bay Area soprano and voice teacher Emily Bender awoke from a dream where thousands of singers had gathered to sing in protest of the concentration camps at our border. She decided right then and there that she wanted to do that in real life: to gather hundreds, if not thousands of singers together to protest the injustices happening in our name at our southern border.
By the next morning, she had begun reaching out to a few of her fellow singers, all of whom were in from the moment she mentioned it. All of us feel strongly that we cannot let the current administrations policy of detention stand unchallenged. Human beings in distress are coming to our border seeking help. They don’t have voices in our nation, but we do, and we must use them!
We now have more than 400 people signed up on our FB event page for a Close The Camps Choir protest on September 15 at 3pm in San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza (formerly Justin Herman Plaza) across from the San Francisco Ferry Building. Singing groups and individuals are invited to take a stand by raising their voices together. People of all ages are welcome to prepare ahead, sing spontaneously or just enjoy the music.
We have chosen thematic repertoire (sheet music available for download on our website) which will include a world premiere of a new song, "Amplify" by composer Sheryl Kaskowitz which uses excerpts from migrant children’s sworn statements at the border as part of the #AmplifyTheChildren campaign.
Local organizations and music groups have rallied, including award-winning female vocal group Solstice, Thrive Street Choir, Resistance Chorus – Silicon Valley, the Jewish Folk Chorus of San Francisco, African Human Rights Campaign, and the Congregational Church of Belmont.
But in order to make this event happen, we need your help. The costs for permit fees, required port-a-potties, publicity, and sheet music have added up to nearly $1,800.
Please give whatever you can! Anything we raise over our event costs will be donated to RAICES and other groups helping immigrants at the border. Whether you are singing with us or supporting from afar, your financial help will help all of our voices be heard.
Thank you!
Close the Camps Choir Organizing Committee
By the next morning, she had begun reaching out to a few of her fellow singers, all of whom were in from the moment she mentioned it. All of us feel strongly that we cannot let the current administrations policy of detention stand unchallenged. Human beings in distress are coming to our border seeking help. They don’t have voices in our nation, but we do, and we must use them!
We now have more than 400 people signed up on our FB event page for a Close The Camps Choir protest on September 15 at 3pm in San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza (formerly Justin Herman Plaza) across from the San Francisco Ferry Building. Singing groups and individuals are invited to take a stand by raising their voices together. People of all ages are welcome to prepare ahead, sing spontaneously or just enjoy the music.
We have chosen thematic repertoire (sheet music available for download on our website) which will include a world premiere of a new song, "Amplify" by composer Sheryl Kaskowitz which uses excerpts from migrant children’s sworn statements at the border as part of the #AmplifyTheChildren campaign.
Local organizations and music groups have rallied, including award-winning female vocal group Solstice, Thrive Street Choir, Resistance Chorus – Silicon Valley, the Jewish Folk Chorus of San Francisco, African Human Rights Campaign, and the Congregational Church of Belmont.
But in order to make this event happen, we need your help. The costs for permit fees, required port-a-potties, publicity, and sheet music have added up to nearly $1,800.
Please give whatever you can! Anything we raise over our event costs will be donated to RAICES and other groups helping immigrants at the border. Whether you are singing with us or supporting from afar, your financial help will help all of our voices be heard.
Thank you!
Close the Camps Choir Organizing Committee
Fundraising team: Close the Camps Choir (3)
Sheryl Kaskowitz
Organizer
Raised $545 from 7 donations
San Francisco, CA
Hannah Doress
Team member
Raised $75 from 1 donation
Emily Bender
Team member
