Please come to the season opening of Voices on the Green this Saturday, October 28, from 7:00-9:00 pm, when we present, I Protest! Doors open at 6:30 for refreshments and conversation.
First Parish member Nancy Earsy will tell the story of her arrest in 1971 (along with 400 others) protesting the Viet Nam War right here on the Green. Bestor Cram, prominent PBS film-maker, who was also there on the Green that day, will show archival film from that nationally famous protest that involved many Lexington and First Parish community members. Sam Berman, a long-time active and productive Lexington citizen, will recount the history of his role in the writing and first singing of “Charlie and the MTA,” a protest song later made famous by the Kingston Trio.
First Parish member Suzanne Adams will tell us about leading her first (successful!) protest and changing school policy when she was in middle school, and Michelle Olsen will share the story of her transformation from Wall Street analyst to Minuteman Indivisible founder here in Lexington. And the executive director of Communities for Restorative Justice, Erin Freeborn, will talk about her decision to work there, where criminals and victims are brought together to provide some recompense for the victims. CRJ, made up of 18 communities including Lexington, is our partner for this evening’s event, and donations for the program will be shared between it and the church.
Music for “I Protest!” will be provided and led by Nick Page, the nationally-known UU musician, choral director, composer, and author who grew up here at First Parish and is currently director of the Mystic Choral. Welcome, Nick! The inimitable Regie O’Hare Gibson will host the evening.
You can direct questions about the event to voicesonthegreen@fplex.org. Donations are $20 for sponsors, $10 for general admission, and $5 for students, and are available at VoicesOnTheGreen.BrownPaperTickets.com.