During The Armory Show today in New York City, a group of protesters called Artists for Justice NYC staged a die-in in the middle of the crowded Pier 94: Contemporary wing. Those who were there to view the art on display began to form a circle around the protesters and watched as New York-based songwriter Shyvonne sang and members of the group went to the ground chanting "I Can't Breathe." An EMS worker arrived to see if someone needed help, and security guards tried to figure out if it was a live performance piece.
When security realized that it was in fact a protest, they tried to shut it down. Cell phone footage posted to Instagram show guards grabbing and lifting the protesters as onlookers tell them to "let her sing" and "watch the force." A few members of the group were removed and the others were escorted out as they sang the folk song "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize."
We spoke to one of the members of Artists for Justice NYC and he explained that "the protest today was not against The Armory Show, but rather we felt a responsibility to make sure this dialogue is not lost in the art world. We came today as a reminder that within all the glamour of the art world, there is still room for a conversation about social justice and the issues we are facing in America and world wide."
UPDATE: Here is a video of the full protest:
