New Orleans-based singer Alexandra Scott penned “Oh Leona” following the tragic June 17 attack on Charleston, SC’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The song’s titular character is Leona Burton, a woman that worked for Scott’s grandmother for many years.

“I thought of her – and called her – my third Grandmother,” says Scott. “She was so important in her church, where everyone called her ‘Mother Burton.’ In my life and in so many lives she was a source of goodness and sweetness, and no one raised by her and my mother could have grown up thinking that hating people who are a different color from you was anything but sad and crazy. She gave me my moral compass.”

After Scott posted a demo of the song online, she was approached by filmmaker Tim Caldwell, who conceived a plan for a video. Over the course of two days, 28 people made their way to Scott’s Tremé home to lip-synch their lines. Some of the participants were professional artists, like Cole Williams, Marc Paradis of Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes, dancer India McDougle, DJ/producer Earl Scioneaux III(aka The Madd Wikkidd), artist Darrin Butler, drag queen Vinsantos, musician Keith Burnstein, chef Anne Churchill and singer Emily Estrella. Others were simply members of the community.

All of them were united in their belief in the project, and their desire to make a moving statement about racism and the importance of community.

OffBeat is excited to premiere Caldwell’s video for Scott’s “Oh Leona,” which you can now watch below.