Joan Baez is mad as hell and she isn't going to stay quiet about it
Folk music legend Joan Baez has never been shy about her politics. In the 1960's, she was a leader in the anti-Vietnam war movement and an outspoken advocate for civil rights.
Unsurprisingly, she's appalled by the policies and policies of the current administration — particularly surrounding immigration. And she wants to do something about it.
'I've spent my life being a thorn in the side of many governments,' she said in an interview. 'I'm very comfortable doing that.'
Earlier this year she caught the comedic host of 'Everybody's Live With John Mulaney' off guard when she issued an impromptu warning on live television about 'our democracy going up in flames.'
Now, she's written three original poems for the Chronicle's Open Forum section — her attempt to channel her rage and sadness into beauty.
'I've written poetry before,' she said. 'But right now, the world being what it is, I've been compelled to write in a slightly different way. The detention centers … It's all kind of too horrible for anybody to realize.'
You can read Baez's work — and watch videos of her reading her poems — here.
Meanwhile, Harry will be back next week. If you want to weigh in on Baez's poetry or anything else that may be on your mind, shoot him a letter to the editor here, or try him by email: hmok@sfchronicle.com
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