pepperspray/Judi Bari trial songs & stories

Violence Against Activists
     One of the Thursday night events to update the public on the Judi Bari vs. the FBI trial. This April 25 event in Berkeley focused on violence perpetrated against activists by law enforcement.
      It was an evening full of powerful moments and moving songs. A few of them will be mentioned here, and some of those can be heard here, starting with a song from forest activist Spring, who did several exceptional songs, the first of which was "I Really Like the Cops".
      Here's how it starts:

You may think I'm here to talk about how police are bad, and how violence against activists is bad but actually I really like the cops. I just have a fond space in my heart... and so I'm going to share a little song with you, and I hope you all will change your minds as you listen to this song because the cops are wonderful great people who are doing a very hard job of lying on the stand and exercising their freedom to take ours away... "I Really Like the Cops" Come and gather round you people now and listen to me ask all you doctors and you lawyers and you folks who push the crack all you folks who push the buttons and you folks who push the mops and listen while I tell you how I really like the cops I really like the cops I think they're pretty cool I like them in my neighborhood I like them in my school I think the cops are wonderful, I think the cops are nice and I like to have a broken jaw and carry a pack of ice I really like the cops I think they're pretty neat I like it when they take my face and smash it in the street and then drive me to a holding cell and lock me in a room and I like it when they rape me up the anus with a broom yoodle oo, yoodle oo I love those boys in blue I really like the cops they make me want to sing You know my favorite movie is that tape of Rodney King And that's why I get really pissed off whenever somebody like you suggests we should subject the cops to citizens' review. I really like the cops I'm so glad they are around to hassle me and ticket me for sittin on the ground I really like the cops I'd be so sad if they were gone there's something 'bout a uniform that always turns me on I really like the cops Just to see them gets me high I hope that I get taken into custody and die and I hope that all the facts and the coroner's report gets chucked into a dumpster so it won't be heard in court yoodle oo I love those boys in blue And so when I hear you making statements about how the cops are mean how the cops are nasty and how the cops are obscene It makes we want to tell you that you oughta get some class and help your local officers by kicking your own ass Come and gather round you people now and listen to me ask all you doctors, you lawyers and folks who push the crack all you folks who push the buttons and you folks who push the mops and listen while I tell you how I really like the cops

Here is video of Spring singing this song: [click vi2cops.rm below] Here is a clearer audio copy, from the onstage microphone (this is an MP3 and must be downloaded, 1.2 MB): http://indybay.org/news/2002/05/126767.php Other songs by Spring: - "Private Property". Video: [click vi2pp.rm below] - A medley ("Rebel against them, don't buy rebellion from them"). Video: [click virebel.rm below] Spring is one of the activists who were doing a sit in at Pacific Lumber headquarters in Humboldt County, California and whose eyes were pried open and swabbed with pepper spray by police. Here she describes that event: [click vispepperpray.rm below]   Attorney Tony Serra gave the audience a very stirring 15 minutes. Here is video of that: [click vi3tserra.rm below] and also a crisp audio version that you can download (5.9 MB MP3): http://indybay.org/news/2002/05/126764.php   The next person to sing a song was Alicia Littletree. This moving and chilling song about Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney is called "Just Like a Picture" and the refrain continues "they're put in a frame, crafted by the FBI". Video: [click vi4picture.rm below]   Then Alicia gave an update of the trial at that point.   Also screened that evening was a video which illustrated all too clearly the shocking level of the brutality and violence used by law enforcement against peaceful, non-violent activists.

 

- video of the "Lynx Song": [click vi6oldones.rm below] - another stirring song sung by Peg Millet: [click viaya.rm below]

EF! activist and prison survivor Peg Millett told her story and performed some amazing and passionate songs. The Lynx Song (Approximate words) walking on the ridge last night I saw in the pale moonlight she called the arboreal forest home though now she's rare and on the run she turned her golden gaze my way and pierced me through my heart these were the words she had to say you just remember the old ones and the reason you came there's blood in the forest and the trees know your name please try an' remember oh won't you recall well it's written in your life it's inside of us all well now the call is out and the bell's been rung oh won't you wake up you children and look what they've done well now the time is right and the moment's here won't you wake up, you children there's nothing to fear. You just remember the old ones and the reason you came there's blood in the forest and the trees know your name please try remember oh won't you recall well its' written in your life its inside of us all You know its written in your life it's inside of us all then she turned and padded into the night a shadow in the fallen snow and now she's looking through my eyes for she stole into my soul her secrets slowly reveal themelves as she sings out through my heart You just remember the old ones and the reason you came there's blood in the forest and the trees know your name please try and remember oh won't you recall well it's written in your life it's inside of us all well you can look to your feet you can call up the soil you can open your heart you can find a new toil cause there's a world out there and it knows your name there's a world out there with its children in pain remember the old ones and the reason you came there's blood in the forest and the trees know your name please try and remember oh won't you recall well it's written in your life it's inside of us all well now the call is out and the bell's been rung oh won't you wake up, you children and look what they've done well now the time is right and the moment's here won't you wake up you children there's nothing to fear. you just remember the old ones and the reason you came there's blood in the forest and the trees know your name please try and remember oh won't you recall well it's written in your life it's inside of us all you know it's written in your life it's inside of us all

 

all video was shot by Steve Jacobsen.