by Sariel Friedman

Being a feminist in a communist country isn’t easy. It was hard enough for Kathleen Hanna and Carrie Brownstein to make music and speak out against patriarchy here in the US, but at least they didn’t have to worry about evading the police. Although it may seem as if American women aren’t heard, free speech is a clear right in the First Amendment of the United States constitution. But for  all-female Russian punk art collective Pussy Riot, staying alive and free from prison is a daily struggle.

The band stages performances that challenge the strict communist politics of modern Russia. On February 21, 2012, their most radical performance was mimed in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour spurred by their opposition to Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church. They were stopped by church security officials immediately. After a video of the band went viral on March 3rd, three of the five group members were arrested and charged with “hooliganism.”

Far from being silenced, Maria Alekhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova have been empowered: they grinned as eyewitnesses accused them of performing “sacrilege and devilish dances” in church. Tolokonnikova laughed out loud when the judge read the testimony of a psychologist who said that her “active stance on social issues” was an anomaly. These women are tough as nails.

Putin chose to use Pussy Riot as an example to discourage other dissenting voices from attacking his policies–but the trial backfired against Putin’s regime, serving instead as a showcase for Russia’s intolerance for criticism to the rest of the world. Pussy Riot’s sentence sparked a wave of protests across Europe and North America in support of the revolutionary punk rock ladies. The band has received vocal media support from international musicians as varied as Paul McCartney, Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Patti Smith, Courtney Love, Yoko Ono, Bjork, Kathleen Hanna, and Sting.

Small, anonymous events have been springing up in support of the band. On Monday August 27th, I attended one myself, a small Los Angeles punk club called The Smell. “Free Pussy Riot” shirts were sold at the venue in support of the band, and young audience members wore t-shirts that said things like “Another slut on birth control.” The concert was completely sold out, and the audience abuzz with anger and activism.

A local band, Business Cats, with a kick ass female guitarist and a large male drummer opened the festivities, followed by DJ sets by Allison Wolfe from the riot grrrl band Bratmobile, and a set by Pangea, an all male punk and metal band from LA. Pangea took the stage decked out in dresses and the signature Pussy Riot masks pulled over their faces with eye and mouth holes cut out. Their energy was infectious, as was their support for their Russian sisters in jail. A brutal mosh pit materialized in the center of the room as audience members – many with red masks over their own faces — crowd-surfed, headbanged and sang along.

The closing band was Vivian Girls, an indie-punk band from Brooklyn. The girls came on stage announcing that they felt like kindergartners in their Minnie Mouse shirt and guitars adorned with Lisa Frank stickers. All three members were equally passionate, their long hair whipping across the stage as they shredded on guitar, bass and drums.

“I take for granted that I can write songs about politics or I can write songs about having a crush on someone. And I can play in public, no matter what I’m saying, without fear of going to jail,” said Vivian Girls’ Katy Goodman. “These women understand that the situation in Russia is very different. It’s amazing they’re putting themselves out there this way with their message….We just want to play and show our solidarity to them, and hopefully they realize how many people around the world support them.”

We must remember that, despite men like Todd Akin and Mitt Romney, we live in a free country. We can speak out against the government and enjoy (at least theoretically) separation of church and state. If I lived in Russia I don’t know that I would have the guts to be a part of Pussy Riot – no matter how empowered I may be. These women are fighting the fight for us, surviving something most American women never dream of having to face (as long as we exercise our precious right to vote on November 4th.)

So, for the love of riot grrrl, free Pussy Riot!