Russian protest and Punk rock group Pussy Riot made a pop-up demonstration in Washington Square Park on Wednesday afternoon with what they called an effort to warn Americans of authoritarianism.
The band gained fame in 2011 for their outspoken criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin while promoting female and LGBTQ+ rights. Several members were even arrested in 2012 after finding massive popularity performing pop-up musical sets that rocked the establishment.
Now Pussy Riot have turned its attention to the United States, warning that if the Trump administration continues unchecked, America could soon become like Russia. Unfurling banners under the arch in Washington Square Park, the group yelled: “Wake up, America!”
“The only thing we can do is show the example of what happened with our country. The freedoms in our country were not taken immediately,” said Masha Alyokhina. “For example, 12 years ago, when we started there, we were allowed to gather together on the streets, we were allowed to protest the war detentions. Then they shut down the mass protests; then they shut down the single demonstrations — then Putin decided to change the constitution.”
The demonstration comes as concerns rise over the Trump administration’s sweeping deportations to an El Salvador mega prison, including a Maryland man who the government admitted was deported in error. Meanwhile, Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil remains in ICE custody after being arrested last month for his participation in campus protests last spring, though he has not officially been charged with a crime.
Additionally, advocates have also issued concerns over Elon Musk being appointed as head of the “Department of Government Efficiency” and holding a great deal of power in the White House despite never being elected.
“We are on a federal wanted list in our country, so if we appear on the border, we’ll be immediately arrested for our anti-Putin and anti-war activity. And we are here now because we see the rise of authoritarianism here, and we want to call people to not be silent. We want people to remember to not give up, even in difficult conditions, to have hope,” Alyokhina said.
Band member Taso Pletner says they have seen what an out-of-control government can do when they attempt to repress those who critique them or openly disagree with them on social media alone.
“They came, not only for activists, they came for children, for old people, just for a tweet,” Pletner said. “Then prison. They are dying, Putin is torturing them. Russia was not always like this, so we are asking you not to be indifferent.”
Pussy Riot says they will be taking their message on the road this month, visiting several cities across the U.S. They will next be in New York on May 2 at the Elsewhere Hall in Brooklyn.
