John K. Samson refuses to be quiet about library measures

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/02/2020 (2414 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

John K. Samson's new single was written in protest of increased security measures at Winnipeg's Millennium Library. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)
John K. Samson's new single was written in protest of increased security measures at Winnipeg's Millennium Library. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Winnipeg singer-songwriter and former Weakerthans frontman John K. Samson released a new solo single Thursday in support of activist group Millennium for All and its desire to retract the heightened security measures implemented at the downtown library last year.

The track, Millennium For All, was written in protest of those increased security measures — which critics have said are barriers to entry, especially for marginalized and vulnerable people — as well as the decrease in funding for all of the city’s public libraries. It includes the talents of many recognizable local names such as Ashley Au, Scott Nolan, Jason Tait and Samson’s frequent collaborator (and wife), singer-songwriter Christine Fellows.

The song and accompanying stop-motion video made by Fellows is available on YouTube now.

Samson, along with Fellows, has close ties to Millennium Library: the pair acted as writers in residence there in 2016-2017.

Millennium For All (the organization) has several days of programming lined up next week which includes a rally on Feb. 25 to mark the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the increased security measures.

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