Planners announce performers for #BansOffOurBodies: March for Reproductive Freedom on October 2 in Minneapolis

BansOffOurBodies: A March for Reproductive Freedom is happening on Saturday, October 2 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The planners are pleased to announce performers for the program in Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Loring Park. (Speakers were announced earlier this week.)

Performers at the Sculpture Garden include Unlawful Assembly and Katy Vernon.

  • Unlawful Assembly is a Twin Cities radical marching band and flag corps collective founded in January 2017 to support causes of social justice, liberation, and equity. They bring music and chanting support to marches, picket lines, and other actions and events.

  • Katy Vernon and her ukulele combine hometown wit of London, folk songwriting and an Americana twang to heartwarming music. Katy is also a board member at Dissonance, an organization that creates opportunities and supports mental health, addiction, and compassion in the arts.

Performers at Loring Park include Rachel Kurtz, Mae Simpson, Lenora Elaine, Mikko Blaze, Zon Legacy Phoenix and The Insomniac.

  • Rachel Kurtz uses her powerhouse voice and heartfelt performances to raise awareness of social issues in place like churches, sports arenas and bars around the country. Her songs are rife with emotion and can make you get up and dance. She has sung at that last 6 national youth gatherings and her song "Make a Difference" is sung nationwide on any given Sunday.

  • Mae Simpson is a singer/songwriter and front person of her dynamic 7 piece band. Originally from South Carolina, she has a huge voice and stage presence and was awarded 2018 City Pages Reader's Choice Best New Band.

  • Lenora Elaine is a poet and an educator of those who listen, a student of all and a creative being. Lenora is founder of Orisun Arts & Wellness, dedicated to Earth, art and using indigenous knowledge to heal.

  • Mikko Blaze is Lead Singer of Hurricane Karaoke, a Live karaoke band. He is a Latinx transgender queer musician singing his heart out all over the world. His ability to weave melody, meaning and purpose into lacy and intentional lyrics is simple spectacular.

  • Zon Legacy Phoenix is a dancer, drag queen and overall artistic performer. She’s always trying to push the boundaries of performance while honoring the styles of pageantry, club kid, and all the shades in between.

  • The Insomniac is a DJ born overseas and raised in a military family. She spent her childhood experiencing many different places before moving to Minnesota. Sharing music, whether new or old, with others is her passion!

The march to Loring Park will begin at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at 11:00; the rally will start around noon when attendees reach Loring Park. BansOffOurBodies: A March for Reproductive Freedom is organized and hosted by Women’s March Minnesota (WMM), Unrestrict Minnesota, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund, and more than 25 other groups. Please register for the event online.

All are welcome to attend and masks are required to keep everyone safe. The 1/2 mile route (map) is fully accessible and there will be a small accessible seating section with chairs in front of the stage in Loring Park.

Ann Treacy