Busking for Justice Series Brings Music and Solidarity to Ithaca
Upcoming performance December 5th at Café Dewitt to benefit immigrants facing threat of deportation
ITHACA, NY – Busking for Justice, a special fundraising concert series featuring local musicians, continues this fall at Café Dewitt in downtown Ithaca’s Dewitt Mall. Concerts take place on the first Friday of each month from September through December, with all donations directly supporting legal aid and bail assistance for immigrants impacted by the threat of deportation.
The series builds on the success of Busking for Good, a two-season community music initiative that raised funds for World Central Kitchen and Loaves & Fishes. Inspired by the generosity of those earlier events, principal organizer Jayne Demakos launched Busking for Justice to channel that same community spirit toward helping immigrants navigate the emotional, logistical, and financial hardships that come with ICE arrests and detentions.
“This music is about more than entertainment—it’s about compassion and solidarity,” Demakos said. “Each act of generosity—by musicians and audience alike—affirms that our community stands with those facing these incredibly difficult circumstances and is committed to upholding the right of due process.”
The series opened on September 5 with Sommers & Manning, drawing a crowd of 70 and raising $1,400, which directly helped two families offset expenses related to detentions. The concerts continue to draw large audiences, raising around $1,500 each concert.
The final event of this series takes place Friday, December 5th from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Café Dewitt, featuring the Ithaca College Jazz Vocal Ensemble & Tristen Jarvis & IC Students
● Tristen Jarvis & Ithaca College Students
We’re delighted to welcome back Ithaca College double bass professor Tristen Jarvis, joined by a small ensemble of students performing everything from classical to jazz.
Tristen Jarvis—upright/electric bassist, producer, arranger, composer, and teaching artist—brings a deep belief in music’s power to heal, empower, and inspire.

Ithaca College Jazz Vocal Ensemble (JVE)

Directed by John W. White, the JVE has a long and rich history of music-making in New York State. Their repertoire spans the jazz tradition—from swing and Latin to contemporary and funk styles—featuring both a cappella and accompanied works.

Event Details
● When: First Fridays –December 5 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

● Where: Café Dewitt, Dewitt Mall, 215 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY

● Admission: Free; donations encouraged and gratefully accepted

● Beneficiary: Legal aid for immigrants facing deportation