Draft:John Mark Rozendaal
John Mark Rozendaal | |
|---|---|
| Born | 63–64 |
| Genres | baroque music |
| Occupation | cellist |
| Instrument | cello |
John Mark Rozendaal[a] is a performing musician who plays stringed instrument music from the baroque and Renaissance eras.
Rosendaal was arrested in August 2024 for playing a cello at a climate protest in New York. His civil protest case has attracted the attention of senior United Nations human rights defenders due to the potential for a 7 year prison sentence.
Musical career
[edit]He has served as founding artistic director of the Chicago Baroque Ensemble, and as a principal cellist of the City Musick and Basically Bach. He has performed solo and continuo roles with many period instrument ensembles, including Brandywine Baroque, the Newberry Consort, Orpheus Band, The Kings Noyse/Boston Early Music Festival Violin Band, Parthenia, The New York Consort of Viols, Repast, Four Nations Ensemble, and the Catacoustic Consort.
Political activity
[edit]Rozendall was arrested on 8 August 2024 while performing a Bach solo outside the New York branch of Citibank to protest their continued financing of fossil fuel projects.[1] Rozendall was seated in a public park with his cello while Alex Connon held an umbrella. Both have been charged with criminal contempt which carries a possible 7 year jail term.[1] Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, together with three other legal experts wrote to the United States authorities on 30 September 2024 about the potential violation of international human rights law in these two cases, given their nonviolent nature and potential for lengthy prison sentences.[2] The US government declined to reply and Lawlor went public with her concerns on 4 December 2024. She said she was "very disappointed" not to have received a response.[2] Their letter asked:[2]
Please indicate what steps have been taken and measures put in place to ensure that all human rights defenders taking peaceful action to promote measures to mitigate climate change and a just transition can carry out their work free from fear of threat, violence, harassment or retaliation of any sort".
See also
[edit]External links
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Lakhani, Nina (8 August 2024). "Cello-playing climate activist arrested at New York Citibank protest as crackdown escalates". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b c Lakhani, Nina (4 December 2024). "UN human rights expert raises concerns about US charges against climate protesters". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-05.