ADL hosts inaugural ‘Concert Against Hate’
By ALAN SMASON
New Orleans has long treasured its rich musical heritage. From its status as the birthplace of jazz to its secure place in the annals of funk and rhythm and blues, music has been the common thread that binds its citizens. On Thursday night, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) proved that point with the first of a series of annual concerts designed to celebrate New Orleans artists as well as to promote its agenda against anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and hate.
Ashley Longshore, a mixed-media artist exuberantly accepts her award at the Jazz Market Place on Thursday, June 20. (Photo by Alan Smason)
A sold-out crowd of 300 raised $90,000 on Thursday night, June 20, at the Jazz Market Place on Oretha Castle Haley and the corner of Melpomene, the heart of what once was the Jewish section of the city more than a century ago.
Event co-chairs Rachael Kansas Feder and Carrie Bart Marks welcomed attendees to the event hall shortly after 7:00 p.m., following an hour-long patron’s party. They announced that special awards would be presented throughout the night by the ADL to three figures – Audrey Ligier, Ashley Longshore and Norris Henderson – for their “courageous acts” in promoting “inclusion, justice and opportunity” in the community.
“We believe by lifting up these local heroes, we encourage our community to follow in their footsteps,” Marks announced. “The incredible local musicians who will play for us tonight remind us that this is a city worth standing up for.”
Following a performance by cellist and vocalist Helen Gillet, Touro Synagogue Rabbi Todd Silverman stepped to the podium to introduce Ligier, who is a transitioning transgender female. Ligier, a member of Touro Synagogue, was elected Louisiana’s first transgender homecoming queen at Morris Jeff Community School in November of 2018.
ADL South Central Region director Aaron Ahlquist, left, with Audrey Ligier, center, and Touro Synagogue Rabbi Todd Silverman. (Photo by Alan Smason)
“I’ve never been accused of being under-emotional,” Silverman confessed in his introduction of Ligier as he became overcome in his remarks about his congregant and student. “Individuals who have known real, true severe discrimination are always, always the ones who teach us how to bring more people together,” he explained.
“How honored I am to know you, Audrey and how grateful I am that someone like you came into my life and the life of Touro Synagogue at exactly the right time and in exactly the right way with your kindness and your unending cheerfulness,” Silverman considered.
In accepting the award, Ligier encouraged others to be their true selves. “Being the first is sometimes the hardest step, but when you see others taking those steps, it sometimes gets easier,” she acknowledged. “Yes, it was terrifying stepping outside my comfort zone, putting myself out there. Yes, I did face hate, but I overcame. I didn’t let it stop me and others shouldn’t let it stop them.”
Ligier posited: “If we keep putting ourselves out there, one day it will be normal and it will no longer be a fight. If you know someone who struggles with who they are, let them know that you support them. Let them know they are loved. We are one earth and we are all one race – the human race. Let’s do this together. Thank you.”
John Boutte performed next with a selection of songs that included a jazz version of “City of New Orleans.”
Audubon Charter School principal Adrienne Collopy. (Photo by Alan Smason)
Adrienne Collopy, the principal of Audubon Charter School, a “No Place for Hate” school which partners with the ADL. She promoted the program which reaches 42,000 students in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi and encourages conversations “about diversity and to stop hatred at its root.”
Collopy added that the ADL’s National Center for Technology and Society has also proven to be an invaluable resource against online harassment and bullying. With the encouragement and guidance of the ADL, the school has encourage self-expression and the promotion of art as powerful tools to combat online hate. It was with that background that she introduced the next award recipient, Longshore, a flamboyant pop artist some have compared to a feminist Andy Warhol.
“Ashley has emblazoned the path for art and fashion to co-exist,” Collopy said in her introduction. Recently selected by Bergdorf Goodman as its first female solo artist, Longshore has also made a name for herself painting pictures of 40 historic female figures for an exhibit curated by Diane von Furstenberg.
“But tonight we want to honor not only the artist she is today, but where she’s come from: a young girl from Montgomery, Alabama who was, as she put it, ‘a weird kid,'” Collopy continued. “She had a big voice and a loud personality. And she insisted on doing things her way. Being different may have posed a challenge growing up, but it’s become a strength as an adult.”
Despite being rejected by many in the art world, the self-taught artist continued to do it her way, Collopy stated.
Ashley Longshore, center, is flanked by ADL South Central Region director Aaron Ahlquist, left, and Adrienne Collopy. (Photo by Alan Smason)
“She pushed on. She worked hard and she never apologized for it. She learned how to market herself, how to self-promote and how to use social media. Now, with over 200,000 Instagram followers, Ashley uses her online presence to promote a mission of self acceptance, feminism, tolerance and love. She exemplifies what it means to use her social media platform for good,” the principal said.
Longshore was nothing less than exuberant when she came onto the stage. “I feel the love in this room,” she said. “This life is all about self-acceptance, knowing who you are and finding yourself on this journey,” Longshore said.
Walter “Wolfman” Washington next performed a set of blues to the continued delight of the crowd.
Following that performance, Imam Rafeeq Numan introduced the final award recipient, Henderson, to the audience. Numan compared Henderson’s story to that of the biblical figure Joseph, whose brothers threw him down a well, sold him into slavery and who was wrongly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
Henderson, wrongfully incarcerated for 27 years, helped found Voices of the Experienced (VOTE), a non-profit agency that attends to the needs of recently-released prisoners looking to transition back into society. Numan praised Henderson for his recent work with the Louisiana Legislature in getting the unanimous jury amendment approved throughout the state, but also for working to deal with numerous issues that affect the under-represented segments of society.
“He believes that those who are close to the problems are closer to the solution,” the imam continued. Mr. Norris Henderson is deserving of this award because he exemplifies ADL’s values of courage and executive,” he added.
Henderson explained that his original flight back from San Francisco had been canceled the day before due to a missed connection. However, the airline’s next flight had him arriving in New Orleans at the same time as the ADL presentation. In order to make the presentation and be on time, he had to purchase another ticket on another airline.
“This is huge in the sense of collaborations that go on,” he added. “I think the more we do this, the more change we will have, not just only in the city, but across the state and across the country.”
The final performance of the night was given by Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony.
Photos of the event are here:
