The first Athens in Harmony event took place at the Foundry last night. It was a night of music aimed at bringing the community together, breaking racial barriers, and promoting community policing.
The event was the brain-child of Pat Priest and hosted by Athens-Clark County Police Chief Scott Freeman and local activist Mokah Jasmine Johnson.
The show consisted of duets performed by artists of different races. Most artists met for the first time to prepare specifically for this event.
Songs included: Lean on Me by Bill Withers, One Love by Bob Marley, None of Us are Free by Solomon Burke.
There were over one-hundred and fifty people at the event and tickets were priced at either $15 or $20. The money will go to three different local charities: Chess and Community, Broderick Flanigan’s First Fridays and mural-making initiatives in East Athens, and VIP Girls’ Dance and Leadership Program.
Johnson sees this as an opportunity for Athens. “The future for Athens is very bright and we can set an example for the rest of the country,” said Johnson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiCHoqVRLHQ&w=560&h=315
The night ended with the crowd and performers singing along to John Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance.
