The Anti-ICE Juneteenth open mic celebration is back! #STFU Artist Collective is hosting another open mic and social event, bringing in local artists and vendors to celebrate Black joy and the radical roots of community art. This event is a continuation of last year’s response to businesses that supported IMPD and Governor Braun’s collaboration with ICE, creating alternative spaces to support communities affected by IMPD and ICE terror.
STFU is also actively calling in artists, performers, and vendors who want to help shape the night. If you are a musician, poet, DJ, visual artist, vendor, or performer of any kind, fill out this form to be part of the program or table at the event. Bring your work and bring your voice! There will also be a live auction of the painting “ICE Melts” from Robert K. Bently who did the live painting of it at last year’s Juneteenth Event.
In a time where division through racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and transphobia is becoming more visible, it’s more important now than ever that we resist in every way we can. Coming together to share art is just as urgent as attending a rally or as informative as a study group. Connecting with other members through sharing and engaging in the art of our class breaks down walls and serves as a crucial act of resistance.
Artist and Vendor Application: Deadline June 14th
Juneteenth commemorates the defeat of chattel slavery in the US, and marks a turning point for the movement for Black liberation across the country. The History of Juneteenth spans from Black slaves who fought and died in the civil war for their freedom, to the 2020 uprising against the state-sanctioned murder of George Floyd, to now, Black revolutionary history lies at the core of working-class liberation.
Many people attribute this to Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, but it was the militant struggle of enslaved Black Americans who paved the way for their own liberation. Similarly, Joe Biden is credited with making Juneteenth a national holiday following the 2020 uprisings, but this was nothing more than an attempt to co-opt the movement. In reality, both major parties align themselves with the racist police and prison systems that have subjugated immigrants and people of color since their inception.
The #STFU Artist Collective celebrates this by highlighting the avant-garde and allowing creators to create art for art’s sake. Founded by an Indianapolis Poet Kenn Hunn, they aim to champion the artists and the communities the collective represents. This is done in part by connecting artists with other artists, and by giving those who push the envelope of what is considered “art” a platform. As always, #STFU continues to invite all artists (across mediums) to shape and collaborate.
No amount of oppressions can take away from the fact that Juneteenth belongs to the people. Join us at the Indianapolis Liberation Center this Juneteenth for a night of celebration, camaraderie, and creative expression. We hope to see you there!
General Admission tickets here, or at the door, see you soon!