Urbana restaurant The Red Herring is hosting a free solidarity concert at 6pm on Dec. 7 at the Channing Murray Foundation in support of those protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The event, which is free to the public, will feature musical acts and presentations from community members who have gone to Standing Rock and provide resources for community members to be more involved in the resistance.

“(The event) is quite open on the ideas to try to get people together to make sure information is clear,” said co-organizer of the event Charlie Harris. “(We want to) try to get people to see that there’s lot’s of ways to get involved. (And we) hope people feel empowered.”

Additional co-organizer Ben Joselyn said that he and Harris had decided to organize the event because they felt the need to support the Standing Rock resistance of the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“The event is supposed to be educational, fun and empowering,” said Joselyn in an email. “We will hear first-hand accounts from several members of our community who have been (to Standing Rock).”

The musical acts will play short sets that will be intermixed with first-hand accounts, brief presentations about the history of the fight against the pipeline, and information on how people can act in solidarity locally.

The live bands performing include Bones Jugs, Aaron “A Plus” Wilson and Da’Vision, The Jazz Collective, The Chickadee Sermon, Vinny Santanelli and Meadowhawk.

“The entirety of funds raised throughout the night will be donated to Standing Rock,” Joselyn said. 

There will be vehicles for people to make donations and all proceeds from the event (food, etc.) will go to the water protectors in North Dakota. 

Jessica Bursztynsky and Vivienne Henning contributed to this report.

[email protected]