Which Side Are You On: A Protest Music Teach-Out is inspired by James Sullivan’s 2019 book of similar name. It is an educational happening and a performance. But mostly, it’s a communal experience that uses music to bring together people who are concerned about the state of our democracy, and who understand that it may very well be culture that saves us.

It began in early 2025, in the wake of the realization that things were really as bad as we thought they might be. I’ve known James for a long time, and was a fan of his book, for the way it positioned some music not thought of as protest music to in fact be that. As a student of music, history, and political movements, I was compelled to talk to James about taking the foundation of his existing work, and launching a series that would allow us to explore some music, work out some worries, and meet other like-minded people as we try to figure out what’s next.

As a friend of mine (a Labor organizer) likes to say, ‘We’re building some muscle, though we don’t yet know how we will use it.” She is right.

What we have experienced so far in producing WSAYO is joy and catharsis. We look at it as a way to prepare people for the work ahead, and our hope is that other communities will take some of what we have been doing, and make it their own. We believe in the power of people, art, and ideas to solve our biggest problems, and we would be honored to see our concept take root like Porchfests, Open Studios, literary festivals, and other community events that build movements.

—Joyce Linehan