Stars show support for Pussy Riot

Speaking up…Madonna introduces Pussy riot rockers Maria Alyokhina (C) and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova onstage at the Amnesty International Concert in Brooklyn. Picture: AFP
Source: AFP

THE likes of Madonna, Debbie Harry, Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, turned out at a star-studded Amnesty International show in Brooklyn to support Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina. The recently freed Russian rock band who spent two years in jail for “hooliganism”, appeared at the event to rapturous applause.

Introducing them was long-time supporter, Madonna, who said she wanted to thank the two women “for making pussy a ‘sayable’ word in my household. Now, my eight-year-olds say it all the time.”

Star-studded show…Debbie Harry and Blondie perform at Amnesty International’s “Bringing Human Rights Home” Concert at the Barclays Centre, Brooklyn. Picture: AP
Source: AP

Madonna also spoke of the death threats she received during her Russian tour, which took place at the same time as Pussy Riot’s trial.
“Eighty-seven of my fans were arrested for gay behavior – whatever that is,” she said.
Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina , who do not speak English, spoke in Russian, as a translator related their speech to the crowd.
“Freedom is not a given,” she translated. “It is something we have to fight for every day. It is our duty to speak for those who are still behind bars.”
Other big names taking part included Susan Sarandon (who hosted the evening), Blondie, and Yoko Ono.

Support…Singer Lauryn Hill performed at the human rights concert. Picture: AP
Source: AP

The event’s main purpose was to raise awareness of human rights violations at the hands of repressive regimes around the world and to recruit new members for Amnesty’s efforts. Sarandon focused the night’s point – “to remind us that each of us has the power to turn anger into action.”
Debbie Harry called the classic song she performed with Blondie, “One Way or Another,” “especially appropriate for this event,” positioning its punk defiance as a statement of political determination.


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