About NOENEMIES

Who and What We Are --

NO ENEMIES, NO EXCEPTIONS

NOENEMIES has become a space to re-engage with the transformative power of collective song- to experience how singing together can impact our spirits as individuals, connect us in purpose as a community, and harness our power as a crowd. 

This is movement singing circle--a chance to learn songs that will be deployed during upcoming actions and public witness. It is a space where we raise our voices together and urge others to do the same.

We are Gen X, Y, and Z, Milleninals and Baby Boomers, Youngsters and Misfits, singers and scared-to-sing-ers, musicians and non-musicians, and first time protesters, never ever singers.

We sing in English and in Spanish. We rarely harmonize but do not oppose it. We sing folk songs, spirituals, rounds, anything that moves people and helps them express their hopes, intentions, and understandings.

NOENEMIES believes in the value of music as a tactic for expressing, sustaining, and growing collective power. We are not a performance group. Our goal is to bring singing back into social justice movements.

NOENEMIES is also a reminder that for a movement to win, the true target is not elected officials or other leaders, but speaking to the hearts and minds of the people who are not yet involved, as well as to experienced activists who may need the magic of music to express their higher selves.

In 2025 this is more critical than ever.

HISTORY

NOENEMIES was first launched in 2014 as an attempt to answer a persistent question from a mentor, Dr. Vincent Harding:

Question: Where are the songs for today’s movements? 

Answer: The songs are all around us. All we have to do is sing them. 

A professor at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, and an African-American pastor, historian, and social activist, Dr. Harding was perhaps best known for his work with and writings about Martin Luther King Jr., whom he knew personally.