A Statement on the Insurrection in Washington, D.C.
When we held our event “We Shall Not Be Denied” this past October, we envisioned it as a celebration of the expansion of voting rights throughout America’s history, an expansion that has happened over the centuries thanks to the work of thousands of people on the ground. We shared the stories of Abigail Adams, of the Seneca Falls Convention, of James McDonald and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mary Church Terrell. We discussed the impact of legislation such as the 15th and 19th Amendments and the civil rights legislation of the 1960s, weaving these stories of people and government together with music representing those moments. We urged people to register to vote, offering support and interviewing experts.
It was a celebration of democracy and we were heartened to see other ensembles around the country celebrate democracy in similar ways.
Never did we think that just a few months later, we would witness such a tragic moment. Wednesday’s events have been described as insurrection, sedition, and an attempted coup. This disgraceful gathering in our nation’s capital was led by white supremacists seeking to overturn the result of a legitimate election. They were spurred on by conspiracy theorists who spread disinformation, hatred, and lies about our electoral processes. Regardless of an election’s results, any group that seeks to overturn the will of the people through violent means is anti-democratic beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Wednesday was one of the darkest days American democracy has experienced in recent history.
Often in moments like these, and we have these moments too often, we ask ourselves what our role should be, beyond the work we already do in our community. Such a fundamental attack on the institutions and stability of our country cannot pass by without comment, but what can we contribute today?
We are a young music organization based in Boston, far from the halls of power, with no political role. Yet our mission, every single project that we undertake, is centered in community, in building trust, in listening and discussion. Any attack such as Wednesday’s shameful insurrection is an attack on the very idea of trust and engagement in a healthy democracy. And in that sense, they are an attack on the communities we work with, an attack on our values.
There is no right response, no correct statement we can give right now other than to express our sadness and disappointment. What little we can offer is not enough for this moment.
That said, we want to reach out to you, to ask how you’re doing. If you need a moment of respite, we invite you to listen to whatever music will help you heal, or to just take a moment to breathe. If you want to take action, we invite you to engage with your community, to call your representatives, or to simply reach out to someone and check in. If you want inspiration, we of course invite you to revisit our fall program. But more than that, we invite you to look to those who help, those who build community, trust, hope. There are lessons around us that we can all stand to learn from.
The fires of division and autocracy can be kept at bay if we take action. It is in working together that we become whole. It is in building community with a renewed commitment to truth and justice that we can heal.
J. Andrés Ballesteros — Executive Director
San San Lee — President, Board of Directors
