Last May John O’Conner had and on-line conversation with John Noel of Area 301. They both agreed that our nation was tragically divided and needs to come together again. They wanted to find a way to use their skills, creativity, and music to bring people together for the common good. About 90% of people want 90% of the same things. One of the most important of those things is that all Americans deserve the equal justice promised by the Constitution. If the 90% of things can be accomplished and we compromised on the other 10% of things, 90% of the people would be 95% happy. Politics needs to be put aside to do what is right and just.
John is not a famous musician, but has worked with many who are. These people know him, respect him, and trust him. When John called each of them and asked them to perform at this concert, all agreed instantly and without reservation that this needs to be done now, before the chasm between competing ideologies widens. He also knew a talented promoter and they talked about hosting a large event on the Mall. As soon as the idea crystalized John contacted Gabriele Whyard with Red Dragon Music and they began working towards our goal of a Concert and Rally for equal justice. In addition to the musicians, activists and organizers responded immediately to the call for volunteers. Even well-known speakers have signed up who will address the audience regarding the progress we have made, the steps backward we have experienced, and the many challenges ahead and what we must do to get us back on track will be explored.
The site and time of the concert and rally were chosen because of their historic significance over many generations. The steps of the Lincoln Memorial are most famous as the location of Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech. But the location has also been a rally point for a multitude of social justice causes since World War I. We wish to commemorate all these struggles to inspire a unity of purpose among the many advocacy movements for equal justice. Dr. King’s success was possible because he activated a huge segment of the population, including tens of millions of whites who stood to gain nothing by achieving equality for minorities. People need to, once again, work for the rights of others, and expand their advocacy beyond a single cause.
John has lived in the DC area through six decades. He remembers Dr. King’s speeches. He remembers the war protests. He remembers Mitch Snyder. He remembers the Million Man March and the Women’s March and many more. He has seen the ebb and flows of progress and recognized that our nation is not focused on the inequities that must be remedied to heal our divided and mistrustful nation. The Average American must act because powerful special interests ignore or profit from divisiveness. Every day we delay moves us closer the failure of the American experiment in self-governance. If not us, who? If not now, when?