(Photo: Daniel Maurer)
Millions of demonstrators are feeling the glorious tide of Saturday’s Women’s March dissipate and recede, their clever signs demoted to campy craft artifacts and their pink headwear tossed into the hamper. It’s Tuesday and we haven’t quite crushed the patriarchy, dismantled white supremacy, or saved the climate. What’s more, America’s new head of state has already pushed alarming executive actions.
Burning Man devotees notoriously host decompression parties. Likewise, plenty of organizers have come up with ways to take the edge off of post-demonstration ennui. Here are a few ways to keep your activist spirit alive, beginning this week, and hopefully continuing for the next four years.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
Silvana, 300 W 116th St; Harlem; 10pm-2am; $5 advance, $10 at the door.
A night of creative expression brings together MCs, poets, dancers, musicians and others to share their stories after the inauguration. The event was launched by Manifesto NYC, a nonprofit that unites diverse young artists for youth empowerment. Speak Your Peace aims to create a space for people to freely open up about their experiences in the current political climate.
Wednesday, Jan. 25
Not The New Normal: How the Media Should Cover the Trump Presidency
NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place; Greenwich Village; 7:30pm; $30.
Listen to top New York editors discuss how the news media should cover the Trump presidency to protect fact-based understanding of current affairs. Slate will facilitate the conversation with the esteemed panelists like David Remnick from The New Yorker.
Thursday, Jan. 26
Raise Your Glass and Raise Your Voice: Stand Up for Reproductive Rights
West 3rd Common, 1 West 3rd St; Greenwich Village; 7-9:30pm; $20 advance, $25 at the door.
On the 44th anniversary of Roe v Wade, The National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund will host a poignant fundraiser to protect women’s rights under threat in the new administration. Admission includes a free drink and raffle ticket with live comedy entertainment.
Friday, Jan. 27
Awkward Sex….and the City: Planned Parenthood We Got You
The Pleasure Chest, 1150 2nd Ave; midtown; 8-9:30pm; $15 online, $20 at the door.
A group of female comedians give a free performance to benefit Planned Parenthood. The ticket price includes free beer and wine as well as 15 percent off of vibes and other merchandise.
Before the Wall: A Benefit to Support Immigrant Communities
Littlefield, 622 Degraw St; Gowanus; 7-11pm; $12-$50.
Punk, funk, and jazz musicians– including B+B favorite Shilpa Ray— come together to empower South Asian immigrant communities. Proceeds from the event supportWomen for Afghan Women and SAPNA NYC an organization to empower South Asian women.
Time to Resist: First Public Meeting
Community Church; 40 E 35th St; midtown; 7-9pm; free.
This meeting’s organizers are seeking to “build resistance independent of the political process.” By building strong local partnerships, they aim to create committed alliance groups to support people who are most vulnerable under Trump’s policies.
Resist Trump! Planned Parenthood Benefit Show & Raffle
Alphaville, 140 Wilson Ave., Bushwick, 8 pm; $12.
At this benefit, tunes will be provided by Scully, a dream pop/cloud rock trio by way of Oakland, newgaze outfit Decorum, NOIA (aka Barcelonian musician Gisela Fulla-Silvestre), Milk Dick (garage punk, a la The Black Lips) and a “special secret band” B Boys (think: Goo-era Sonic Youth). Local businesses like The Spotted Pig, Bunk sandwiches, Nitehawk, and Mikey’s Hookup are contributing to a raffle, tix for which are just $2.
Saturday, Jan. 28
Planned Parenthood Benefit with Sadist, Murderer, Exit Order, Nandas, Subversive Rite
The Silent Barn, 603 Bushwick Ave; Bushwick; 9pm; $10 advance, $15 at the door.
Shake away more political despair with another benefit concert for Planned Parenthood, this time in Bushwick. There will be art for sale and raffle prizes.
Sunday, Jan. 29
Women’s March Postcard Party
Hudson Guild, 441 W 26th St; Chelsea; 1-5pm; $5 plus postage stamps.
Come together with art supplies and energy to begin the Women’s March 10 actions in 100 days— a series of direct actions to support the causes that matter to you and may be under threat during Trump’s presidency. The first initiative calls for postcards to Congress. In the words of the Women’s March, “Our march forward does not end here. Now is the time to get our friends, family, and community together and MAKE HISTORY.”
Additional reporting by Nicole Disser.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article misspelled the beneficiary of “Before the Wall: A Benefit to Support Immigrant Communities.” It is SAPNA, not Saphna.