Protest action “For your and our freedom”
Event: On January 20, 2012, a provocative action of the punk band “Pussy Riot” was held on Red Square in Moscow, in which its participants sang a song: “In the song there is a line” For your and our freedom, punish with a whip “. We recall the events of 1968, a sit-down protest rally of dissidents in Red Square, after which they were tortured and sent to psychiatric hospitals, prisons and exiles. The same power structures that were under Brezhnev, remained in power, they did not go anywhere. The forms of authoritarianism, control and state terror have changed. But the country is ruled by the same police officers, for whom to knock out their teeth during interrogation – nothing stands. Our phrase “Patients are invited to accept conformance” refers to the measure of punishment that was used in the USSR, and also to the fact that the power to this day in Russia treats its citizens as mentally ill and is incapable of making decisions independently.”
The purpose of the action: to provoke the authorities to arrest and rigid detention of participants, to demonstrate to the world community the attitude to freedom of speech. Raise the recognition of the art project and communicate its social and political program to the society: feminism, the fight against law enforcement agencies, the protection of the LGBT community, anti-Putinism, radical decentralization of government bodies in Russia.
Direction: security, discredit of the police officers.
Instrument: NCO, musical group
Method: provocative street concert, flash mob
Media coverage:
https://www.yuga.ru/news/251178/
The reaction of society: after the arrest of the group in its defense, opposition politicians and experts spoke. Social networks for a long time discussed both the fact of the arrest and the action itself, the youth supported the actions of the participants, speaking out about the oppression of individual freedom.
International resonance: international NGOs and human rights defenders spoke in defense of the protesters. European politicians held a series of events where they discussed the tough actions of the Russian government and the oppression of freedom of speech. In the European Parliament a round table was held, in which politicians and human rights activists took part.
For example, the world showbiz supported them: Singer Zola Jesus performed her own song “Night” with the dedication of Pussy Riot. The musicians Moby, Mark Almond, Beastie Boys, Anti-Flag, Die Antwoord, Refused, Sigur Rós, Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer, John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono, Icelandic singer Bjork, sir Paul McCartney, as well as many artists and world actors spoke in support.
What they achieved: the participants of the group managed to provoke the Russian authorities and associate the lyrics with actions against themselves. Discussion in the society and hundreds of issues in international media made the group popular, and its participants heroes in the eyes of the West. They raised the issue of the rights of women and LGBT people, openly challenged the authorities.