This month’s Equity Resource recommendation comes from long time Tangletown resident, former TNA board president, and current Tangletown Equity Committee member Pat:
“Last autumn I was at a No Kings protest on the Minnesota Capitol grounds. The area was packed with thousands of friendly, helpful people sporting pro-democracy and anti-authoritarian signs and banners, save for a few yelling from trucks displaying MAGA-themed flags and bumper stickers. My husband and I had some trouble navigating the dense crowd and finding a place to stand. We worked our way into a gap, nearing some dancing protesters. At the center of the dancers, a small band of brass instrumentalists and singers were sending out a rocking street sound that got everyone moving. It was exhilarating—music meant to sustain and inspire attendees. They were Brass Solidarity.
I have been at other protests and rallies—anti-ICE, pro-democracy, anti-racism—and Brass Solidarity was always there, fueling and inspiring souls and bodies, especially on the icy winter days. I learned that Brass Solidarity is a group intended for the community, drawing members from neighbors and friends. Since 2021, they have been playing every Monday at 5:30 PM at George Floyd Square in response to the murder of George Floyd and the movement for Black lives.
You are probably aware, in some way, of the power of music and how it affects our thoughts, moods, and behavior. It can move feet and bodies on the dance floor, consumers at the market, and individual hearts and minds. Music has been used in our culture throughout history to console, lift up, and embolden the spirit of the people. At a time when communities can feel divided or exhausted, Brass Solidarity creates a space where people can find a shared rhythm. A street band cannot solve every problem–but it can help people gather, remember, mourn, celebrate, and keep moving together.
You can check out the Brass Solidarity website here or on Facebook and Instagram, and in this community report feature on CBS News.”