Today's post has nothing to do with sports, but it has something to do with the ongoing struggle for civil rights. A supporter of that movement, folk singer Pete Seeger, died yesterday evening at age 94. He wrote many songs, including "Turn, Turn, Turn," "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," "If I Had a Hammer," and "We Shall Overcome," which was adapted from a gospel song. "We Shall Overcome" became an anthem for the struggle for civil rights during the 1960s. Seeger was an activist for many progressive causes during his long life. Besides civil rights, he supported the Counterculture, environmentalism, nuclear disarmament, freedom of expression, and organized labor. He served in World War II and opposed the Vietnam War. In the 1950s, he was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee because of his membership in the Communist Party USA (His testimony can be found here). Seeger refused to name names and he was sent to jail after a jury trial found him guilty of contempt of Congress in 1961. Less than a year later, an appeals court overturned his conviction. Seeger has received multiple awards for his music and he has performed with many musicians, including Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Bruce Springsteen, and Ani DiFranco. I have posted a video from Youtube of Seeger performing "This Land Is Your Land" back in 2009:
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