Activism

Playbill reports: Members of the New York theatre community—including Broadway performers and Actors’ Equity leaders—took to the steps of City Hall April 3 to raise their voice in support of the NEA at the Rally to Save the Arts. Playbill was on hand to capture the event and discuss the importance of this program with several featured artists.. At the …

The Phoenix New Times reports: For a few brief moments this Sunday, activists from Trans Queer Pueblo shut down the Phoenix Pride Parade, unfurling a giant banner that read, “No Justice, No Pride.” As Trans Queer Pueblo explained to New Times on Friday, their message was a simple one: They want Pride to be inclusive and stand up for the …

Yahoo Sports reports: The Washington Nationals may have pulled off a dramatic, come-from-behind 4-2 victory Monday against the Miami Marlins, but not every fan was happy following the game. As crowds were leaving the ballpark, a group of protesters hung a sign that read “Impeach Trump #Resist” over a railing in the stadium. The Washington Nationals may have pulled off …

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: A peaceful rally in support of transgender people turned into a disruptive protest in Center City at about noon Saturday when an orange bus bearing anti-transgender messages on it — “Boys are boys… and always will be” and “Girls are girls… and always will be” — rolled around onto the north side of City Hall. The …

The Associated Press reports: A crowd of more than 1,000 people in Utah’s Democratic stronghold booed Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart at a Friday night town hall as the congressman defended GOP positions on health care, public lands and immigration. Audience members yelled, “Do your job,” imploring him to investigate and denounce connections between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia …

Duncan Osborne reports at Gay City News: The organization that produces New York City’s pride parade, rally, and related events has agreed to allow groups eager to confront the Republican Party’s control of the federal government near the front of the June 25 pride parade. “I’m extremely proud of the people who came out to raise their voices about this, …

The Arizona Republic reports: Artist Karen Fiorito knew backlash was bound to come. And it has. Commissioned by a downtown Phoenix art gallery in January to create a billboard art piece that would comment on President Donald Trump’s administration, Fiorito said what she had in mind was going to stir up a controversy. “Billboards are perfect because you don’t have …

Via press release: Commuters passing through Springtown, Texas on Route 199 will likely notice a new black billboard emblazoned with a red inverted pentagram framing a goat’s head underneath, which reads: “Paid for by The Satanic Temple.” More prominently, the primary message states: “Never be hit in school again. Exercise your religious rights.” According to The Satanic Temple spokesperson, Lucien …

The New York Post reports: White House spokesman Sean Spicer was accosted by an Indian-American woman — who peppered him with questions about committing “treason” and working for a “fascist” like President Trump — as he shopped in an Apple Store over the weekend. The encounter has since gone viral after the woman who filmed it, Shree Chauhan, 33, claimed …

BillyPenn.com reports: Little Pete’s is disappearing from Center City sooner than anyone thought. Although developers for the hotel that will replace the iconic diner at 17th and Chancellor had set August 31 as the deadline for vacating the space, owner Pete Koutroubas has decided to shut down earlier. He’s also throwing a farewell party. As reported by Philly Chit Chat, …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: Protesters who damage property or block traffic could face tougher penalties under a criminal offense called “economic terrorism” proposed last week in North Carolina’s legislature. The bill from several N.C. House Republicans comes months after Charlotte faced weeks of protests following the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. While most of the protesters were …

Via press release: The American Civil Liberties Union has today demanded documents from four federal agencies concerning a potential executive order that would sanction religiously motivated discrimination against LGBT people, members of minority faiths, women, and people seeking reproductive health care. “The American people deserve to know whether this administration plans to protect the rights of all Americans or whether …

GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy showed up quite late to his townhall yesterday and was SHOCKED to face an angry crowd. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: Sen. Bill Cassidy had to know he was facing a tough crowd when they tried to shout down the invocation. “Amen!” one man hollered just moments after Louisiana State Chaplain Michael Sprague began his prayer. …

Mic.com reports: Thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of Stonewall Inn Thursday night to protest President Donald Trump rolling back protections for transgender Americans. In the description of the Facebook event for their protest, Rally organizers said they wanted to “make it clear that we will fight to keep protections for Trans and gender non-conforming people and students.” Doing so, …

In reaction to the Trump administration rescinding transgender student rights, dozens of LGBT rights and progressive groups will be leading a protest rally this afternoon outside the Stonewall Inn in downtown Manhattan. The rally is cosponsored by the New York City Council, GLSEN, GLAAD, and Lambda Legal. The event begins at 5:30PM and its Facebook page is here.

The Austin Statesman reports: Hundreds of people have signed up to protest outside the Texas governor’s mansion on Thursday against bills that they say threaten the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Their resistance of choice? Dancing. The mansion is “a Greek revival building and is the oldest continuously occupied home in Austin,” said Jeremy von Stilb, an …

ABC New York reports: A banner reading “Refugees Welcome” was unfurled on the Statue of Liberty Tuesday afternoon. The banner, approximately 20 feet by 3 feet, was spotted on the pedestal just before 1 p.m., affixed by nylon rope to the wall of the public observation deck at the base of the statue. Rangers, alerted to its presence, immediately made …

Billboard Magazine reports: Leave it to Grace Slick to make an activist statement by saying “yes” to use of Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” in an ad for fast food chain Chick-fil-A. The co-founder of Starship’s predecessor, 1960s psychedelic group Jefferson Airplane, Slick has penned an op-ed explaining her decision to authorize a license of the 1987 hit to …

The Austin Statesman reports: A web-based ad, shot by Austin film director Richard Linklater, uses humor to attack arguments that the transgender bathroom bill is needed to protect privacy. The digital ad, which will appear in targeted buys on Facebook, includes a diverse cast — including two transgender Texans — to argue that Senate Bill 6 is about discrimination, not …

Via the Daily Kos: The other day Utah Republican, misogynist, and yellow-bellied deadbeat official Jason Chaffetz held a town hall meeting where thousands of people showed up to protest his inability to do his job. Unable to get past his pathetic ego, Rep. Chaffetz has decided to follow the Republican Party line lie that anyone voicing displeasure with Republicans are …