Photo Flash: Rock Against the TPP Tour Draws Crowds in Seattle and Portland
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 23, 2016
As the White House readies a final desperate push for the unpopular Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, large crowds turned out for "Rock Against the TPP" events in Seattle and Portland over the weekend as part of a nationwide protest tour featuring high profile celebrities including actress Evangeline Lilly, hip hop icon Talib Kweli, comedian Hari Kondabolu, and punk band Anti-Flag. TV's Adult Swim comedian ERIC ANDRE made a surprise appearance at the Seattle event at Showbox SoDo, while the outdoor Portland event featured a street march with an inflatable TPP "death star." Scroll down for photos!
Both events also featured teach-ins hosted by Golden Globe nominated actress Evangeline Lilly (Lost, The Hobbit, Ant-Man), and a panel of local experts. The Northwest dates follow previous successful tour stops in Denver and San Diego.
Organized by legendary guitarist Tom Morello (Prophets of Rage, Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave), his new label, Firebrand Records and digital rights group Fight for the Future, the tour is sponsored by Backbone Campaign, Citizens Trade Campaign, Communications Workers of America (CWA), CREDO, Demand Progress, Friends of the Earth, the International Labor Rights Forum, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, SumOfUs, the Teamsters, United Steelworkers. The Northwest events were organized with support from the Washington Fair Trade Coalition and Oregon Fair Trade Campaign.
In addition to the large concert events and teach-ins, the tour has brought creative protests directly to lawmakers s by flying a 25 foot blimp over Congressional offices along the tour route. So far the blimp has been sited outside the offices of Rep Scott Peters' office in San Diego and Rep Ami Bera's office in Sacramento.
The tour stops next in San Francisco on September 9th at Regency Ballroom with an event featuring punk legend Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Grammy winning latin alternative band La Santa Cecilia, and riot-grrrl cello legend Bonfire Madigan.
Additional tour dates are to be announced. For more information, see www.rockagainstthetpp.org.
Massive crowd at Showbox SoDo in Seattle for Rock Against the TPP Concert. Featuring Talib Kweli, Anti-Flag, Hari Kondabolu, Evangeline Lilly, Danbert Nobacon of Chumbawamba, Downtown Boys, Naima Penniman of Climbing Poetree, bell's roar, Taina Asili, Ryan Harvey, Evan Greer, Son of Nun (pictured). Photo by Rick Barry.
Rock Against the TPP Portland in Director Park. Photo by Rick Barry.
Talib Kweli has the crowd hyped at Rock Against the TPP. Photo by Rick Barry.
Finale of Rock Against the TPP Portland. Featuring Anti-Flag, Downtown Boys, bell's roar, Danbert Nobacon of Chumbawamba, Hari Kondabolu, Evan Greer, Ryan Harvey, Son of Nun, Taina Asili, Naima of Climbing Poetree, Makana, Sihasin, and more. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Activists projected messages on the side of buildings in Seattle to advertise for the events. Photo by Rick Barry.
Talib Kweli rocking hard against the TPP. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Rock Against the TPP light brigade at the end of the night. Photo by Rick Barry.
Rock Against the TPP crowd and TPP 'Death Star' and light projections. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Anti-Flag (acoustic performance) at Rock Against the TPP Portland. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Talib Kweli with a full band. Photo by Rick Barry.
TPP 'Death Star' at Rock Against the TPP Seattle. Photo by Rick Barry.
Surprise appearance from Adult Swim comedian ERIC ANDRE. Photo by Rick Barry.
ERIC ANDRE making Evangeline Lilly laugh. Photo by Rick Barry.
Hari Kondabolu tearing it up at Rock Against the TPP. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Catherine Houston of United Steelworkers and Anthony Jackson of the Nabisco 500. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Downtown Boys at Rock Against the TPP Portland, Director Park. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Downtown Boys at Rock Against the TPP in Seattle. Photo by Rick Barry.
Danbert Nobacon of legendary UK band Chumbawamba. Photo by Rick Barry.
'How to Fight the TPP' Teach-In in Seattle. Photo courtesy Sierra Club.
Hawaiian slack-guitar hero Makana at Rock Against the TPP. Photo by Rick Barry.
Evan Greer, Fight for the Future campaign director, quit organizing for a moment to pick up a guitar. Photo by Rick Barry.
'How to Fight the TPP' Teach-In in Portland. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
bell's roar at Rock Against the TPP Seattle. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Taina Asili brought her fierce afro-latin rhythms to Rock Against the TPP. Photo by Rick Barry.
Rock Against the TPP Artists on a Converted School Bus Between Seattle and Portland. Pictured: Evangeline Lilly, Sihasin, Makana, Climbing Poetree, Anti-Flag, Downtown Boys, Evan Greer, bell's roar. Ryan Harvey, Son of Nun, Rock Against the TPP tour organizers. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Sihasin at Rock Against the TPP Portland, Director Park. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Sihasin of the Navajo Nation at Rock Against the TPP in Seattle. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Danbert Nobacon of Chumbawamba at Rock Against the TPP Portland. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
Talib Kweli at Rock Against the TPP Seattle. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Talib Kweli with a full band at Rock Against the TPP Seattle, Showbox SoDo. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Hari Kondabolu at Rock Against the TPP Portland in Director Park. Photo by Andrea Bakacs.
Anti-Flag at Rock Against the TPP. Photo by Gaetano Vacarro.
Son of Nun gets down off the stage at Rock Against the TPP Portland. Photo courtesy Fight for the Future.
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