Instagram: @songsforliberation

Joselyn Walsh is a Chicago-based musician and community organizer whose work blends art and activism into a shared language of resistance. As a member of the collective Songs for Liberation, Walsh brings music to protests and public spaces, using song as both a unifying force and a form of emotional refuge for communities facing state violence. Her involvement with the Nourish Community Co-op further reflects her commitment to mutual aid and food justice, emphasizing that sustaining movements requires not only voices, but care and nourishment.

In late 2025, Walsh became a widely recognized figure amid an escalating crackdown on protest activity when she was federally indicted on charges of conspiracy and assault following demonstrations against ICE operations in the Chicagoland area. The charges stemmed from events at the Broadview ICE facility, where protesters were met with tear gas and “foam” baton rounds. During one protest, federal agents shot her guitar while she was playing — an act Walsh described as an attempt to silence both her music and her message. Despite legal threats and physical danger, she continues to show up, insisting that fear cannot be allowed to define the future of collective action. Through music, organizing, and unwavering presence, Walsh’s work highlights the enduring power of art to defend community, preserve dignity, and transform protest into a shared act of hope.

Editor’s Note

While Artist Spotlight has historically focused on Palestinian artists, writers, and organizers, we recognize that struggles for dignity, peace, and justice are not confined to one place. The growing urgency of immigrant rights in the United States amid increasing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) enforcement and aggression has made it clear that this conversation must also expand. In the same spirit that guides our coverage of Palestine, we are including individuals whose art and activism defend immigrant communities and affirm the universal right to safety, belonging, and self-expression.