Through the power of their music, folk artists Charlie King and Karen Brandow will commemorate the anniversary of two Italian immigrants' 1927 execution while attempting to educate people about the potentially dangerous consequences of the death penalty.
The two artists will participate in the workshop "Remembering Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti" Saturday at the UNM Law School.
Judi Caruso is the outreach coordinator for the Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation, a group organizing the benefit. She said that King sings about issues such as social justice, human rights and the environment.
She added that he has been involved with murder victims' families in the past and is now working on a project called "Journey of Hope," in which both King and Brandow share experiences and music from their eight years of helping the organization's members work state-by-state to eliminate the death penalty.
Brandow stated in an e-mail that she and King think the Sacco and Vanzetti's case is a strong example in arguing for its abolition.
"The story of Sacco and Vanzetti also presents interesting lessons about many issues that are relevant today - how the government deals with suspected terrorists, how immigrants with dark skin and foreign accents are treated, how labor organizers and political dissidents are viewed, what happens when the justice system fails and the suppression of free speech," Brandow wrote.
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Caruso said King had also written a song about Sacco and Vanzetti in 1977 titled "Two Good Arms" that he will perform at the workshop. She said that Sacco and Vanzetti's story will also be explored through their letters and poetry that they wrote while in prison.
The workshop focuses on Sacco and Vanzetti, the two Italian immigrants who 75 years ago were executed in Massachusetts after being convicted for murder during a questionable trial in 1927.
In 1977, Michael Dukakis, governor of Massachusetts, issued a proclamation declaring "any stigma and disgrace should be forever removed from the names of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, from the names of their families and descendants."
What has been considered a deeply political debate since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, advocates against the death penalty use the case of Sacco and Vanzetti to show how a prejudiced court can send innocent people to their deaths.
Caruso said that already 99 people have walked away from death row when evidence of their innocence was produced. She said her organization wants to help find alternatives to more killing and help reduce violence in societies and the workshop is a forum that will educate.
She said that because the workshop is free she hopes that people will not be discouraged to attend since none of their money will go toward a cause that they might feel ambivalent about.
Music and other art forms have often served as forums for discussion about political issues and many well-known artists, such as Rage Against the Machine, have taken the stage to express their messages.
King, who has been involved with American folk music for 35 years, has written songs recorded by performers such as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie and Judy Small. He and Brandow have been performing together since 1998 and participated in several different workshops dealing with a variety of political issues.
A statement from King's Web site states that "music has served as a tool to educate, unite and raise the spirits of people in struggle. These workshops examine the history of people's dreams and battles for a better world as recorded in the songs they sing."
For more information on King and Brandow, visit www.charlieking.org. For more information on Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, visit www.nmrepeal.com/mvf.htm.
