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barnwell chapel
April 13, 2023

An evening of banned music, literature in tribute to the First Amendment

Berry's Department of Communication recently presented an adaptation of Freedom Sings®, a traveling musical experience that brings stories to life in the form of songs,  in Barnwell Chapel.

The evening featured a short concert of once-banned music, including ‘Red Rag Top,’ ‘Times They Are A Changin’,’ ‘Short People’ and ‘Louie Louie,’ as well as readings of banned poetry and literature. Performers were alum Josh Huggins and Brandon Trapp, members of the Ian Trapp Band that performed Freedom Sings® first in 2009.

“We’re excited to bring back these two gifted musicians and to celebrate the First Amendment in such a creative, expressive, joy-filled way,” said Brian Carroll, chair of the Department of Communication and instructor for media law. Students of the Media Law course organized and planned the free event.

Ken Paulson created the Freedom Sings® traveling show and is director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University. Paulson created the show to raise awareness of the importance of free speech in the United States through performance.

This event was sponsored by Viking Fusion, Berry’s student-led multimedia content hub, at vikingfusion.com.  

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