When one of the city’s musicians gets arrested for simply playing his instrument and bringing joy, New Orleans does not take the news sitting down. But, neither will the city be subject to protests in conflict with its core values of coexistence and peace. The Rally for New Orleans Musicians, to be held on July 21 by Jenelle Roccaforte, is one of those special New Orleans events: an event with something important to say that embraces, rather than abandons, what it means to be a New Orleanian.
On July 8, Eugene “Little Eugene” Grant, a local musician that often plays on Frenchmen Street with the Young Fellaz Brass Band, was arrested outside of Frenchman Art & Books while performing. The store’s owner, David Zalkind, called the police, because the book store stays open until midnight and the band was blocking the bookstore’s entrance during prime operating hours. The band was asked to move away from the entrance by the bookstore owner (and did not). The New Orleans Police Department responded, asked the band to move to another location, which they did until the NOPD left, and then the band moved back to the bookstore entrance. The police apparently returned to make sure the band had moved, and when the officers saw that the band had not, they forcibly removed them, and Little Eugene was arrested.
According to a tweet by prominent musician DJ Soul Sister, many who witnessed the event believed the police response to be excessive, with reports of 40 police officers at the scene and a chokehold administered to Grant.
“We are rallying to stand up for Eugene Grant and musicians’ rights in New Orleans. As gentrification continues to challenge our communities, we need to support the musicians who supply the music that is the backbone to the culture of this city. The musical traditions deserve to be preserved and protected, especially the long standing traditions of street brass bands,” says the event’s Facebook page.
The Rally for New Orleans Musicians is “not only standing up for Grant but all musicians like him and similar cases of community culture being lost through gentrification.” So, on Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m., the event will gather at Jackson Square, and from there the group plans to second line to 600 Frenchmen St., the location where Grant was arrested. Those preparing to take part in the second line are encouraged to bring instruments, water, signs and anything else they may deem appropriate for the event.
Anyone who cares about the future of New Orleans’ music culture is invited to attend. Information is available through the Rally for New Orleans Musicians Facebook page. Read about Grant’s arrest, here.
