Image Credit: Summer of Heat on Wall Street

New York, August 10 (RHC)-- In New York City, a 63-year-old climate activist and musician was arrested Thursday and now faces up to seven years in prison for performing a piece by Bach during a protest outside the headquarters of Citibank.   

John Mark Rozendaal, a professional cellist, was arrested alongside 14 other peaceful protesters, who encircled Rozendaal to shield him from the police while he performed in the public plaza. 

Rozendaal spoke briefly before he started playing Bach’s “Suites for Cello.”

Rozendaal siad: “We’re here for freedom of speech.  I’m playing music here today because we are taught that the purpose of music is to sober and quiet the mind and make it susceptible to divine influences.”

His words were interrupted as his fellow activists urged him to start playing as police approached.  The protest was part of the “Summer of Heat on Wall Street” campaign, which has been targeting Citibank with peaceful demonstrations all summer. 

According to media reports, some 500 people have been arrested since the actions started.

Climate Crisis Protests Freedom of Expression Police Brutality New York