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VIDEO: Jackson Browne Performs for Occupy Washington
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Singer songwriter, Jackson Browne performs for Occupy Washington participants on Monday at Freedom Plaza in Washington. Browne sang to show his solidarity with the Occupy Movement.
Musician and activist Jackson Browne stopped by the October 2011 protest—what’s also been called Stop the Machine and is calling itself Occupy Washington—in Washington, DC’s Freedom Plaza on Monday for a free concert. The performance follows his visit to Occupy Wall Street on Friday.
Big name musicians from Jeff Mangum to Talib Kweli to Amanda Palmer have played at Zucotti Park for Occupy Wall Street protesters, but Browne is the biggest name since Boots Riley’s performance at the inaugural weekend to grace DC with his protest music.
Before the performance, an organizer gave an impassioned recounting of how she came to live in Freedom Plaza and how Browne, both personally and musically, had been a lifeline, important friend, and inspiration.
Kevin Zeese, who has been one of the faces of this occupation along with partner Margaret Flowers, followed with a rousing description of how Freedom Plaza is thriving even as other occupations, including the K St. Occupy DC only blocks away, are struggling with police around the country.
Browne’s set was playful and interactive, but also filled with anger and anguish over the state of the nation. He explained how he came to play at the plaza after his recent tour, where he dedicated songs to occupiers around the nation—something that prompted rousing cheers at every show.
Check out a video of his song, “Casino Nation” recorded guerilla-style on a cell phone, along with two other (and much higher quality) videos from his performance at Occupy Wall Street.
Browne has been a mainstay of the West Coast music scene since the 1970s after composing hits for other artists from Nico to the Eagles. He has a long history of progressive political activism, and has been seen in recent years playing election-themed shows organized by MoveOn and suing the McCain campaign and the Republican party in 2008 when they attempted to use one of his songs, Running on Empty, in a campaign ad.
Sam Menefee-Libey is the LGBTQ Advocate with Campus Progress.
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