PFAW will be reading the Constitution… Then on Monday quite a few events of note are going on around town. Here are some of the events that we’ll have our eyes on this Monday in Washington, DC, as a handful of the band’s favorite organizations get together and celebrate on inauguration eve. The following morning at 11:30AM on the steps of the United States Capitol building, Barack Obama will be sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States of America. And YES… we ARE excited!:
As part of the upcoming inaugural weekend festivities, People For the American Way Foundation is sponsoring a reading of the Constitution at noon on Sunday, January 18th at the Newseum, located near the national mall in downtown D.C. Weâre asking leading figures from the worlds of government, religion and the arts to help us by each reading a portion of the Constitution and weâd very much appreciate your help in identifying prominent individuals to participate as one of the readers â if any of the R.E.M. band members will be there weâd love to have them participate for example. In recent years our readers have included Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Senator Robert Byrd, Richard Gere, Alec Baldwin, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and Walter Cronkite.
FUTURE OF MUSIC COALITION’S BIG SHOULDERS BALL
The Future of Music Coalition and the band have a long history together from the FMC’s activism in regard to Net Neutrality and R.E.M’s participation in Rock the Net on down to Mike Mills’ involvement in FMC’s fundraiser for displaced New Orleans’ musicians and the Tell Us The Truth tour in 2003.
On Monday, January 19th, Future Music Coalition will host the Big Shoulders Ball at Black Cat featuring a great lineup with Andrew Bird, Ted Leo, Waco Brothers, Eleventh Dream Day, Jon Langford, Sally Timms. For more information on FMC and their causes, please visit their website.
ROCK THE VOTE: HEY, AMERICA FEELS KINDA COOL AGAIN
Rock the Vote has been engaging and building the political power of young people for progressive change in the USA since 1990. RTV’s hard work paid off big time this election, and they will deservedly celebrate the record turnout of young voters in the 2008 election and honor the contributions of those who helped make it possible at their inaugural party on Monday. “Hey America Feels Kinda Cool Again” at the 9:30 Club with performances by the Beastie Boys, Sheryl Crow, Citizen Cope, and Justin Jones.
Visit RTV’s website for more information.
MICHAEL TO CO-HOST MOVE ON’S INAUGURAL BASH
Michael will join Rosario Dawson, Heather Graham, Shepard Fairey, SEIU, and OBEY Giant as co-hosts of Moveon.org’s inaugural party at Manifest Hope on Monday night. The party will feature performances by De La Soul, Santogold and Moby.
In addition to the party, MANIFEST HOPE: DC will host an art gallery featuring an array of the nation’s most talented visual artists under one roof to mark the inauguration. The gallery, open from January 17th â 19th, encourages artists and activists to maintain the momentum from the campaign and bring real reform in three key areas: heath care, worker’s rights, and the green economy.
On Monday, January 19th, Shepard Fairey’s iconic “Hope” image will be on display at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. It will be the first portrait of President-elect Obama to be hosted at the National Portrait Gallery.