Latest news with #PowerToThePeople
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
John Lennon's Political Anthem Returns To The Charts Decades After Is Release
The Beatles have never completely vacated the charts in the United Kingdom — at least not for long. Whether as a band or via the solo work of its members, the impact of the biggest band of all time can always be felt. Reissues, vinyl exclusives, and one-off special surges in popularity keep the music of all four artists coming back. This frame, it's John Lennon who returns to a pair of tallies with one of his most direct and politically-charged solo statements. 'Power to the People' Is Back 'Power to the People,' credited to John Lennon, Yoko Ono – as simply John & Yoko – and the Plastic Ono Band, is back on two U.K. singles rankings. The track returns at No. 29 on the Official Vinyl Singles chart and at No. 36 on the Official Physical Singles list. A top 40 comeback more than half a century after the tune's drop is the kind of surge any artist hopes for. A Late Arrival to the Charts Though 'Power to the People' was first issued in 1971, it didn't become a charting hit in the U.K. until April 2025. It debuted that month on both the Official Vinyl Singles and Official Physical Singles charts, and even found room on the Official Singles Sales ranking as well, for two weeks. John & Yoko's Reappearances in 2025 This isn't the cut's first reentry since its April debut. In June, 'Power to the People' climbed to No. 24 on the Official Vinyl Singles chart and No. 27 on the Official Physical Singles ranking, and then disappeared. A No. 5 Peak for 'Power to the People' To date, 'Power to the People' has spent seven weeks on the vinyl tally and eight on the physical singles list. Its best showing was in the cut's first week on the rosters, when it opened at No. 5 on both charts — a peak it hasn't matched since. From Standalone Single to Catalog Staple Released outside of a studio album in 1971, 'Power to the People' arrived during one of Lennon's most politically vocal periods after the dissolution of The Beatles. Lennon and Ono recorded the track with the Plastic Ono Band, whose rotating lineup helped shape a raw, experimental sound. Over the years, 'Power to the People' has been featured on compilations like Shaved Fish.
NZ Herald
31-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Letters: Why we should appreciate the hidden and often undervalued benefits of art and architecture to our communities
Let councils work hard to save money on providing basic services so they / we can afford a few architectural gems that lift the spirit, boost the economy generally, and leave something special for all to enjoy. David Hopkins, Remuera. Power to the people Too many New Zealanders are paying too much for food, water, electricity and housing, essentials for life of every person. New Zealand produces these 'essentials' abundantly and cheaply to meet legitimate needs of the people. Why do New Zealanders pay so much? Your Power To The People article series provides analysis about people unable to pay high-cost power bills, disconnection/reconnection fees plus company responses. Every home needs basic lighting and power for cooking and heating at minimal cost, which requires cheap electricity. People in huge luxury houses, profitable businesses and high-tech data centres using massive amounts of water and electricity should pay market rates. The modest majority of New Zealand citizens and ratepayers want an equitable system, good wages and affordable essential services. This requires the Government and multinational corporations to do better act in the interest of our people and the environment. Laurie Ross, Glen Eden. Get housing right It seems that Housing Minister Chris Bishop thinks Auckland's main purpose is to boost the economy and he knows just how to achieve it – by building lots of high-rise apartment blocks next to railway stations without any consideration for the environment. Forget good design, volcanic views and character areas. He is driven by a mindless economic imperative that will allow developers to throw up the slums of the future. He portrays himself as a housing warrior but he will find that Aucklanders disagree. We want more housing but not at the detriment of this beautiful city. Margot McRae, Devonport. A bilingual world worth striving for Your editorial (July 30) sums up the continued opposition of some of our leaders to all things Māori. Changing the position of the words on our passport – puting New Zealand above Aotearoa – is a symbolically significant, but petty and ridiculous decision, which sadly may gain support from those who firmly believe English, and all things English, should forever come first. We have a unique culture in this country, thanks to the courage, persistence and generosity of the indigenous people, and we should treasure it, not fear it. The language, still at risk, is essential to the culture, so its status should always be recognised, and its wider use ecouraged. The English language, on the other hand, faces no such threats. It's always going to be dominant. A bilingual, bicultural country would be a goal worth striving for. I, for one, would rather live in it rather than in a colourless, defensively monolingual world. J.A. Mills, Whangārei. Passport to discovery New Zealanders travel. A lot. Most who travel as tourists do so to experience other cultures. How proud most of us are of our bilingual passport cover which acknowledges we are a forward-looking country that respects the indigenous culture of those who were here before. How embarrassing it is that our Government is changing this as if it's a good thing. Samantha Cunningham, Henderson. A unique bicultural society I enjoyed the irony in your editorial (July 30) on the proposed switch in the order of name on the cover of the Aotearoa New Zealand passport. Like, is this what is exercising our Government while our country suffers from the major effects of climate change? While house prices are out of reach for many families and homelessness is increasing? While healthcare access and treatment is limited? And the impact of inflation steadily bites the most disadvantaged citizens? Aotearoa New Zealand has a unique bicultural society which increasingly embraces the original indigenous culture whose language has sound and meaning which English, the second culture, does not. Nobody knows where 'Zealand' even is, do they? Christine Keller Smith, Northcote Point.
New York Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Live Updates: Wave of Anti-Trump Protests Sweeps Across U.S.
Pinned Protesters filled plazas, streets and parks across the country on Saturday, mounting a mass mobilization that called for protecting American democracy from a president that many decried as authoritarian. The demonstrations set off in waves as the day progressed, in small towns and major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, the heart of a surging protest movement against President Trump. Some 2,000 events, organized under the slogan 'No Kings,' were planned across all 50 states, animated by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, domestic military mobilization, federal spending cuts and Mr. Trump's planned military parade in Washington, which was coinciding with his 79th birthday. Many demonstrators struck patriotic themes, waving American flags, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or carrying signs referencing the nation's founding fathers. Carlie Woods, 21, protesting with her father and sister in Springfield, Mass., said she had nearly lost her voice from cheering as she carried a sign featuring an American flag and a 'Power to the People' message. 'A lot of times it can feel very doom and gloom,' she said, 'but this makes you feel like you're not alone, to be around so many people fighting for our future.' Speakers at a rally outside the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., paid tribute to State Representative Melissa Hortman, the Democratic lawmaker who was assassinated overnight by a person pretending to be a police officer. Organizers called off other rallies in the state as investigators said the attacker, who remained at large, may have also planned to target the protests. Hours later, the authorities in Texas temporarily cleared the grounds of the State Capitol 'out of an abundance of caution' after receiving what they described as a credible threat toward state legislators who were expected to attend the protest in Austin. The Capitol building itself remained closed. Organizers of the No Kings demonstrations called on participants to focus on 'nonviolent action.' In Houston, some demonstrators handed out flowers to police officers who were securing the route of the protest. In Chicago, the police superintendent helped a woman who tripped on the street near him. Many of the events drew large crowds, but confrontations with the police were rare. In Charlotte, N.C., police sprayed a chemical irritant at protesters attempting to move past a line of officers after the official end of the No Kings protest. And during a separate protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a northern Atlanta neighborhood with a large Hispanic population, police deployed tear gas into a crowd that was headed toward a highway. Here's what else to know: Military parade: No Kings organizers avoided calling for demonstrations in Washington, where the military parade was set to go on despite a forecast of thunderstorms. Mr. Trump previously warned that anyone seeking to protest at the parade would be met with 'very big force.' The speakers: In Newark, U.S. Representative LaMonica Mclver stood in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln outside the Essex County courthouse and struck a tone of defiance. Ms. Mclver, who faces federal charges related to a confrontation at a migrant detention center last month, said she would not be silenced or intimidated. 'We have to be on the front lines to fight for democracy,' she said. In Philadelphia, Martin Luther King III told the crowd, 'We will not let democracy die on our watch.' Los Angeles crackdown : In the months before the immigration raids in Los Angeles, the Trump administration and immigrant rights groups had been preparing for conflict. Then the message arrived: 'ICE is here,' one father wrote. 'They're going to take us.' Read more › Shifting priorities: The Trump administration recently shifted the focus of its mass deportation campaign, telling immigration officials to largely pause raids and arrests in hotels, restaurants and the agricultural industry. Read more ›
New York Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Live Updates: Protesters Fill Streets Across the U.S. to Oppose Trump Policies
Pinned Protesters filled plazas, streets and parks across the country on Saturday, mounting a mass mobilization that called for protecting American democracy from a president that many demonstrators decried as authoritarian. The protests set off in waves as the day progressed, in small towns and major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta, beginning hours before President Trump was set to host a military parade in Washington. The No Kings events in all 50 states were animated by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, domestic military mobilization, federal spending cuts and the parade, which was coinciding with the president's 79th birthday. Many demonstrators struck patriotic themes, waving American flags, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or carrying signs referencing the nation's founding fathers. Carlie Woods, 21, protesting with her father and sister in Springfield, Mass., said she had nearly lost her voice from cheering as she carried a sign featuring an American flag and a 'Power to the People' message. 'A lot of times it can feel very doom and gloom,' she said, 'but this makes you feel like you're not alone, to be around so many people fighting for our future.' Speakers at a rally outside the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., paid tribute to State Representative Melissa Hortman, the Democratic lawmaker who was assassinated overnight by a person pretending to be a police officer. Organizers called off other rallies in the state as investigators said the attacker, who remained at large, may have also planned to target the protests. Hours later, the authorities in Texas evacuated the State Capitol and its grounds 'out of an abundance of caution' after receiving what they described as a credible threat toward state legislators who were expected to attend the protest in Austin. Organizers of the No Kings demonstrations called on participants to focus on 'nonviolent action.' In Houston, some demonstrators handed out flowers to police officers who were securing the route of the protest. In Chicago, the police superintendent helped a woman who tripped on the street near him. While many of the events drew large crowds, conflicts were rare: Police in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood of northern Atlanta deployed tear gas into a crowd of demonstrators who were headed toward a highway, and police in Charlotte, N.C., sprayed a chemical irritant at protesters attempting to move past a line of officers. The protests come amid building outrage over raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Los Angeles that led to mass demonstrations and conflicts with law enforcement. The city has emerged as the epicenter of anxiety over immigration enforcement and has seen days of sustained protests; the authorities there said they were bracing for crowd sizes on Saturday that could be 'unprecedented.' Some 2,000 events were planned from coast to coast. In Atlanta, thousands of people packed into Liberty Plaza, carrying signs that included the message 'Stop Trump's Terrorism' and singing a rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' adjusted with the words 'Take Trump out of the White House.' In Greenville, Ohio, where Democrats are rare, protesters gathered even as police warned that anyone blocking the road would go to jail. Here's what else to know: Military parade: No Kings organizers avoided calling for demonstrations in Washington, where the military parade was set to go on despite a forecast of possibly severe storms. Mr. Trump warned that anyone seeking to protest at the parade would be met with 'very big force.' The speakers: In Newark, U.S. Representative LaMonica Mclver stood in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln outside the Essex County courthouse and struck a tone of defiance. Ms. Mclver, who faces federal charges related to a confrontation at a migrant detention center last month, said she would not be silenced or intimidated. 'We have to be on the front lines to fight for democracy,' she said. In Philadelphia, Martin Luther King III told the crowd, 'We will not let democracy die on our watch.' Los Angeles crackdown : In the months before the immigration raids in Los Angeles, the Trump administration and immigrant rights groups had been preparing for conflict. Then the message arrived: 'ICE is here,' one father wrote. 'They're going to take us.' Read more › Shifting priorities: The Trump administration recently shifted the focus of its mass deportation campaign, telling immigration officials to largely pause raids and arrests in hotels, restaurants and the agricultural industry. Read more ›
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather at No Kings Day rallies across the Wilmington-area
Hundreds of Wilmington-area residents gathered across the region Saturday, June 14 as part of a "No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance." In the Cape Fear region, protest locations included downtown Wilmington, Leland, Shallotte and Surf City. More than 1,000 communities across the country were planning protests to reject what event organizers called "corrupt, authoritarian politics in the United States." The protests were held on the same day that many Americans, including President Donald Trump, are celebrating the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. June 14 is also Flag Day and Trump's 79th birthday. Live updates: 'No Kings' protests underway from Florida to California At the rally in downtown Wilmington, the crowd started to gather well before the advertised start time of noon. By 11:30 a.m., hundreds were already in attendance with many carrying signs with slogans such as "Resistance is patriotic," Stop illegal deportations," "Power to the people," and "Trump Lies." As the crowd continued to grow, a man with a "Trump Won" flag repeatedly drove along Princess Drive and Third Street. The man and protestors yelled back and forth. Eventually, the Wilmington Police Department closed Princess Street to traffic. But officers reminded attendees to stay on the sidewalks and out of the street. What appeared to be another Trump supported waved a flag and shouted while walking through the crowd. The protestors chanted: "Donald Trump has got to go." Meanwhile, speakers, including State Rep. Deb Butler, a Democrat from Wilmington, addressed the audience. "Thank you for being here and not just for democracy but for recognizing your role in protecting it," Butler said. "We cannot be complacent. ... "Democracy cannot protect itself." Butler also noted that police officers were at the scene by request and she encouraged attendees to give them thanks and respect. Although the Wilmington rally was expected to end with a march, organizers ended it early -- around 12:45 p.m. -- because of rain and lightning in the area. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: No Kings Day protests in Wilmington, NC, Leland, Surf City, Shallotte
