Gallery: As Verdict Nears, Artists Rally to #FreePussyRiot
01ace-hotel
02peaches-free-pussy-riot-2
Peaches ------- Electro-dance artist Peaches [gathered a crowd of balaclava-wearing supporters](http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/400-people-join-canadian-artist-peaches-for-free-pussy-riot-video-1.910144) in Berlin to make a video for her "Free Pussy Riot" song, which she wrote with Simonne Jones, and got other artists like Jake Shears of the [Scissor Sisters](http://www.scissorsisters.com/) and JD Samson of Le Tigre and MEN to contribute. The song is available for [free download](http://soundcloud.com/peaches-rocks/free-pussy-riot), but Peaches encouraged fans to make a donation through the [Pussy Riot website](http://freepussyriot.org/). She also helped organize [an online petition](http://www.change.org/freepussyriot) "in support of the Russian punk feminist band Pussy Riot!" It has gotten nearly 100,000 signatures. [#iframe: https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F56375026](100%x166)||||||
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Petr Pavlensky -------------- Russian artist Petr Pavlensky showed support for Pussy Riot by sewing his mouth shut and standing outside a church in St. Petersburg, Russia. After the action he told Dazed Digital, "Sewing up my mouth, [I showed the situation of the contemporary artist in Russia](http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/14077/1/petr-pavlensky-v-vladimir-putin), living in an environment where there's a ban on publicity, the tightening of censorship and suppression of public statements in contemporary art."
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Madonna ------- Madonna took to the stage in Moscow (above) to "say a few words about Pussy Riot." The pop star then said, "I'm blessed to be from a country where I have the right to express my opinion, OK? But my dream and my prayer is that everyone in the world has this right...I know there are many sides to every story and I mean no disrespect to the church or the government but I think that these three girls – Masha, Katya and Nadya – I think that they have done something courageous, I think they have paid a price for this act, and I pray for your freedom." Russia's deputy prime minister later called Madonna, basically, a [moralizing slut](http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/aug/09/pussy-riot-madonna-called-moralising-slut).
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Björk ------- Björk dedicated her song "Declare Independence" to Pussy Riot at a show earlier this month. The singer also posted a [message on her website](http://bjork.com/#/news/statementindefenseofpussyriot) saying, "as a musician and a mother I would like to express I fiercely don't agree with them being put in jail because of their peaceful protest performance."
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Kathleen Hanna -------------- Bikini Kill frontwoman and original riot grrrl Kathleen Hanna posted a call to action online in support of Pussy Riot. She also blogged that, "As someone who has been in feminist bands [I am both saddened and outraged](http://www.kathleenhanna.com/seriously-they-are-in-a-fucking-cage/). When my band Le Tigre wore Stop Bush dresses and spoke out against racism, homophobia and sexism we feared not getting a fair shake in both the music industry and the underground scene, but never jail." And she added that if the women did end up having to serve time in prison, lots of musicians could "play benefits and go to Russia en masse under the banner that we are all Pussy Riot."
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Patti Smith ----------- Rocker Patti Smith exclaimed "Free Pussy Riot!" from the stage of a recent show in Stockholm (above). And in an interview [with a Norwegian television station](http://www.nrk.no/video/patti_smith_om_pussy_riots/ADA86454A96D3600/), she wore a shirt supporting the group and explained, "I'm wearing this T-shirt today because I’m very concerned with the young girls in Moscow, who are on trial for just being free – for expressing themselves. They're young people filled with energy, idealistic. The consequences of idealism don't always occur to a young person. So it's a small way to show my solidarity to them."
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Red Hot Chili Peppers --------------------- During a concert in Moscow in July, Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis wore a "Pussy Riot" T-shirt onstage (above). Kiedis and RHCP bassist Flea [presented letters to](http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jul/24/franz-ferdinand-chili-peppers-pussy-riot) Tolokonnikova's husband Pyotr Verzilov expressing support.
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Anti-Flag --------- Anti-Flag covered Pussy Riot's "[punk prayer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=di2OqWtfgaY)" and posted it online to raise awareness about what was happening in Russia. The Pennsylvania band has also held a couple of benefit shows for the women. "Anti-Flag condemns the Russian authorities abuse of power and [calls for the immediate release of Pussy Riot](http://anti-flag.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3624)," the band wrote on its website.
