A Fixed Moment · NYC Culture & Community
Music and calls for voter participation filled Brooklyn Borough Hall on Sunday, November 1, as The Soapbox Presents held Stoop Sessions: Freedom Song ahead of Election Day.
The gathering ran from 4 to 8 p.m. at 209 Joralemon Street. A stage stood in front of Borough Hall’s columns, where singers, musicians and speakers addressed people gathered in the plaza.
The event brought together music and civic organizing. The program’s emphasis was straightforward: encouraging New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote.
Music With a Purpose
The Soapbox Presents promoted an 11-artist lineup featuring vocalists and instrumentalists. Its announced roster included Gene Noble, J. Hoard, Khailah Johnson and Luther S. Allison, among other musicians. The organizer’s full announced lineup is credited below.
Photographs from the evening show singers sharing microphones, musicians playing before Borough Hall’s illuminated columns, and spectators capturing the performances on their phones. The individual performers pictured are not named in the captions without confirmed identification.
A Call to Vote
Marija Abney, founder of The Soapbox Presents, connected participation in elections with the history of voting rights and responsibility to future generations. Speaking to the crowd, Abney said:
“You know what I can do? I can vote.”
— Marija Abney, founder of The Soapbox Presents
“I vote for us. I vote for my ancestors. I vote for my culture. I vote for my community.”
— Marija Abney
She spoke of voting for relatives, ancestors and community members, including future generations. New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett also addressed the gathering ahead of the November 3 election.
According to the organizer’s announcement, community partners included BLAC, the NAACP New York State Conference, the New York Urban League, Until Freedom and Healthcare Education. The organizers also thanked Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso for welcoming the event.
A Busy Weekend in New York City
The event capped a weekend of major gatherings in New York City. The Village Halloween Parade filled Manhattan on Saturday, while the New York City Marathon brought runners and spectators into Brooklyn and across the five boroughs on Sunday.
At Borough Hall, the emphasis shifted to a public call for participation in the approaching election. These photographs document the stage, the audience, the signs and the people who gathered for Stoop Sessions: Freedom Song.
Announced musicians and performers: @iamgenenoble · @jhoardmusic · @khailahjohnson · @trejahhh · @luthersallison · @jonathon_m_c · @thejoshuagreen · @pinkyliberachi · @anthony.hervey · @anisha.j.rush · @thejefferymiller
About this credit: This lineup comes from The Soapbox Presents’ pre-event announcement; it is not a confirmed record of which artists appeared onstage.
Organizer: The Soapbox Presents
Scenes From Brooklyn Borough Hall
Photographs from the stage, performances and civic gathering on November 1, 2026.
Videos From Stoop Sessions
Two short recordings from the event, published by A Fixed Moment on YouTube.
Stoop Sessions: Freedom Song — Photo Gallery
Select any photograph to enlarge it. Use the left and right arrows to browse, or the × to close the viewer.
Photography by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment · Brooklyn, New York · November 1, 2026
Support A Fixed Moment
A Fixed Moment documents New York City through original photography and independent reporting. Your support helps make more coverage like this possible.
Support A Fixed Moment on PatreonA microphone and stage stand before the columns of Brooklyn Borough Hall during Stoop Sessions: Freedom Song. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
1 / 25
Vocalists and musicians perform beneath the illuminated columns of Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
2 / 25
A group of vocalists sings together on the Stoop Sessions stage. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
3 / 25
A speaker addresses the audience from the stage at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
4 / 25
Attendees pose with a “Just Vote” sign during Stoop Sessions: Freedom Song. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
5 / 25
A vocalist sings into a microphone under the evening stage lights. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
6 / 25
The Soapbox Presents display outside Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
7 / 25
Brooklyn Borough Hall served as the backdrop for the outdoor event. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
8 / 25
An attendee poses near the columns of Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
9 / 25
An attendee holds a “Just Vote” sign near Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
10 / 25
A DJ works behind a mixer at the Stoop Sessions stage. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
11 / 25
A “Brooklyn Welcomes You” banner overlooks the stage at Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
12 / 25
The Manhattan Bridge rises beyond a statue in Downtown Brooklyn. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
13 / 25
A vocalist raises his hand while singing during Stoop Sessions. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
14 / 25
A performer gestures while speaking into a microphone. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
15 / 25
A vocalist sings beneath purple stage lighting at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
16 / 25
Audience members watch and record the performance from the plaza. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
17 / 25
A singer smiles during a group performance at Stoop Sessions. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
18 / 25
A speaker raises her arm while addressing the Stoop Sessions crowd. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
19 / 25
A vocalist performs at the outdoor stage at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
20 / 25
A woman addresses the audience while standing in front of the Borough Hall columns. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
21 / 25
Spectators watch and photograph the program from the audience. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
22 / 25
A speaker gestures across the stage during the event. Photo by Richard Scalzo / A Fixed Moment.
23 / 25
