Power of song in Palestine
Scottish choir to show solidarity through the power of song
People in Palestine are about to receive a new form of international solidarity – through the power of song. Singer-songwriter Penny Stone, who attends Quaker Meetings in Edinburgh, is taking a choir from Scotland to the Occupied Territories to back nonviolent struggles for human rights.
The choir will sing at demonstrations, checkpoints and refugee camps. They will also join a Palestinian choir for a joint performance at Ramallah Friends’ Meeting House.
‘We’re going partly to learn, partly to show our solidarity in song,’ said Penny. The choir includes nine women and two men of different ages and faith backgrounds. They have different levels of experience – of Palestine, of active nonviolence and of singing.
The tour, which includes sites in Hebron, Jayyous and East Jerusalem, will last from 13 to 27 May.
Penny told the Friend that she had learnt a lot about the power of music and song while working as an Ecumenical Accompanier (EA) in Jayyous in 2009. EAs are human rights monitors from around the world.
‘Music just helps people,’ she said. ‘It helps people to connect.’
