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HERE IS THE SCHEDULE:

2 p.m. Fri., April 10th.

Join the ZOOM press conference/media briefing.

1) The Release of Don’t Mute DC’s new report “How to Make Go-Go ‘Official’ Post-COVID-19”

2) Welcoming new coalition partners Crank the Vote (www.crankthevote.com and the 70K Strong campaign for the District’s returned citizens. (http://seventythousandstrong.com/

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Among press conference participants: Report editors Charles C. Stephenson Jr. and Dr. Suzanne Goodney Lea; activist Tony Lewis Jr., go-go artist and Make Go-Go Forever Task Force Co-Chair Michelle Blackwell, and Joe “JoJo” Houston Jr. of 70,000 Strong.

 

MEDIA: Please register by emailing info@dontmutedc.com or calling 202-848-4394 for a confirmation.

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7-8 p.m. Fri., April 10th.  LIVE at Facebook.com/MakeGoGoForeverDC Virtual Interactive Town Hall hosted by comedian Davy Ruffin. Panelists include: actor, musician and philanthropist, and Make Go-Go Forever Task Force Co-Chair Ralph Anwan Glover, Don’t Mute DC co-founder Ronald Moten, Go-Go Live author and Howard University assistant professor Dr. Natalie Hopkinson and Know Your Price author and Brookings Fellow Dr. Andre Perry.

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Discussion will include the following topics:

- What happens if Black people are not counted in the 2020 Census and at the voting booth; COVID-19 collapse of the go-go industry

-The D.C. government’s $600 million budget shortfall and what is “essential” to disproportionately impacted Black communities

- The plight of Returning Citizens amid COVID, and more.

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General Public will be integrated through ZOOM and Facebook.

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8-8:45 p.m. Friday, April 10th LIVE at Facebook.com/MakeGoGoForeverDC Special virtual performance by Backyard Band.  

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8:50 p.m. Friday, Apr. 10th. LIVE at Instagram.com/MakeGoGoForever. 

Immediately following the Backyard Band performance, the afterparty will be live from the living room of activist Tony Lewis Jr. and the living room of Band leader Frank Sirius, who will deliver an intimate, unplugged tribute to late, great soul man Bill Withers.

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Visit us at www.dontmutedc.com or email info@dontmutedc.com

WASHINGTON - Don’t Mute DC, the organization behind the viral movement, #DontMuteDC, have reached a monumental moment in history with the finalization of the “Go-Go Bill'' B23-0317, making Go-Go last forever. The law was first introduced by DC Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, and approved by the entire DC Council.

 

On Wednesday, February 19, at 4 p.m., DC Mayor Muriel Bowser will sign the law making Go-Go the official music of Washington, D.C. in a ceremony at Culture House DC featuring a performance by Backyard Band. Join in celebration on social media using the hashtag, #MakeGoGoForever

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Anwan “Big G” Glover, leader of Backyard Band and longtime community advocate predicted “tears of joy to have this done.” He added: “I can really stand up and say my music is officially stamped. It is opening up the floodgates for bigger and better things. This is where the presidency is, where people make the money, and make the laws. It’s huge!”

 

This law, also known as the #DontMuteDC bill, requires that within 240 days the mayor develops a plan to preserve and support go-go music, and its history, including the responsibilities of various District agencies such as the Archives, the Office of Cable Television, Film, and Music Entertainment, and the District of Columbia Public Library.

 

“This is a tribute to the 80,000 people in 94 different countries who signed our petition and rallied to support Don Campbell’s Metro PCS store,” said go-go scholar Natalie Hopkinson, Ph.D., who, along with DC cultural advocate Ronald Moten, co-created the Don’t Mute DC “Go-Go Music and Culture” petition in April 2019.

“The key will be working with our elected officials to develop a Go-Go Plan with real meat and dedicated funding to support and preserve the culture,” added Hopkinson, author of Go-Go Live.  

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To continue to drive the conversation on the city's Go-Go Plan, Don't Mute DC has partnered with Go-Go Radio Live, TMOTTGOGO.com, Heartbeat Radio Hour and WEAREGOGOMUSIC.com for a "Go-Go Town Hall" at the Kennedy Center, on February 25, at 7 p.m. This event will be inside of The Reach at the Kennedy Center, located at 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC.

This will be Don't Mute DC's first activation as members of the inaugural Kennedy Center Culture Caucus. The Town Hall will discuss what the community wants to see in the Mayor's Go-Go Plan. Also on the agenda are: the Go-Go Museum and how to improve this year's Go-Go Awards. The public is invited to take this Go-Go survey and/or RSVP HERE.

Please follow our livestream of the event on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter @MakeGoGoForever for all official updates starting at 4 p.m. on Wed. Feb. 19. For all official Don't Mute DC updates, please visit www.dontmutedc.com and tune in to @MakeGoGoForever on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or call 202-848-4394.
 

Contact
info@dontmutedc.com
202-848-4394