Pete Seeger

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of reading Peter Applebome's wonderful piece in the New York Times about the new River Pool at Beacon a swimming "pool" in the Hudson River that Pete Seeger and some friends dedicated last week.

Many people know the story of Pete Seeger, who brought American folk music to the hit parade with the Weavers in the 1950's and was then blacklisted and banned from TV for refusing to cooperate with the communist-hunting House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). When brought before the committee in the mid 1950's, he asserted that testifying against his will was a violation of the first amendment's protection of free speech and refused the protection offered by the 5th amendment protection against self-incrimination.  read more »

The anti-war activists Jonathan Tasini was looking for during his primary challenge to Hillary Clinton may finally emerge this weekend as the Working Families Party is films an anti-war ad this Saturday in Prospect Park.

They're looking for volunteers to lip sync a Pete Seeger song for the shoot and help "send a message to Washington bring the troops home from Iraq."

-- Azi Paybarah