What they really should be singing: “Communist hell, communist hell/we destroy everything, it’s a pity/we’re ding a lings, hear us sing/Hope we will soon go away…”
A group of protesters met up at MoKaBe’s coffee house in Tower Grove South at about 8 p.m. to go over lyrics to social justice holiday carols. They planned to carol in the Central West End and possibly Flora Place in the Shaw neighborhood later tonight. By 9:45 p.m. they were caroling in the Central West End.
They distributed copies of a “caroling for justice” song book with modified lyrics to popular carols. Lyrics to “White Christmas” included: “They’re dreaming of a white Christmas/just like the ones the bigots know/Where justice is missing and fairness isn’t/Because fairness and justice they don’t know.”
“Life is Hell,” sung to the tune of Silver Bells, included the lyrics: Life is Hell, Life is Hell/It’s a racist time in the city/Ring-a-ling, hear them sing/Slim hope for justice today.”
The group grew from about 30 to 45 protesters as they caroled outside various restaurants and businesses, and then staged a four-and-a-half minute “die-in” in the intersection of North Euclid and McPherson avenues. City police approached organizers and told them they had to get out of the street.
Said one officer to protesters: “You have rights, but you don’t have the right to block traffic.” But by the time that conversation took place, the protesters got up and left and planned to carol on Flora Place in the Shaw neighborhood.
