January 1, Jazz Group Quits Trump Kennedy Center Shows

Wyatt’s Take

• A New York jazz group, the Cookers, dropped out of their New Year’s Eve gigs at the Trump Kennedy Performing Arts Center.
• The group’s singer called out the center’s leadership, accusing them of racism and hurting black culture.
• The center’s boss says left-wing activists have caused this culture clash by refusing to perform.

The Cookers canceled their two New Year’s Eve concerts at the Trump Kennedy Performing Arts Center, citing a “frustrating last-minute change.” The group didn’t give a straight reason for quitting, but their actions follow Trump taking charge of the center’s leadership board.

“Would never even consider performing in a venue bearing a name (and being controlled by the kind of board) that represents overt racism and deliberate destruction of African American music and culture,” saxophonist Billy Harper said, according to a post on Facebook group Jazz Stage.

Center president Richard Grenell fired back online, saying, “Their actions prove that the previous team was more concerned about booking far left political activists rather than artists willing to perform for everyone regardless of their political beliefs,” and, “Boycotting the Arts to show you support the Arts is a form of derangement syndrome. The arts are for everyone and the left is mad about it.”

This is just the latest in a line of cancellations since Trump’s name went up on the building. The center was renamed earlier this month after a board of directors vote, and Trump promised to shake things up back in March. The canceled concerts were supposed to be part of “A Jazz New Year’s Event.” As of Tuesday, the event seemed gone from the center’s site.

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Wyatt Matters

This is about more than just a concert. It’s a glimpse at whose voices matter in America—and how quick some folks are to shut out anyone who doesn’t share their politics. Middle America believes in fairness and everyone getting a shot, not shutting doors when the political winds change.

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