‘Rise Up’ choir to perform at March For Our Lives

The Baltimore middle school choir whose powerful rendition of “Rise Up” went viral last fall will perform at an anti-gun violence protest this Saturday in Washington. The students at Cardinal Shehan School will sing with Andra Day — who first wrote and performed the song — and Common at the March For Our Lives protest, according to a publicist. It’s the choir’s second time performing with Day and Common. Last year, they teamed up during an episode of “The View.” Day and Common were just nominated for a Daytime Emmy award for that performance, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced Wednesday. Last year, they sang the national anthem before a December Ravens game and performed live on “Good Morning America.” The original video — of the group performing “Rise Up” during practice — catapulted the group to fame last September after director Kenyatta Hardison posted it online. It has now been viewed more than 60 million times. “During the rehearsal, I added a few parts to it, and then I said, ‘Let me just go live with it,’ just so the parents could see,” Hardison said. “When I pushed ‘Live,’ it just changed. These kids were changing the hearts in the world.” Many other Baltimore students from the area are expected to attend the March For Our Lives. Earlier this month, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh announced that Baltimore will pay as much as $100,000 to hire a fleet of buses to help transport city school students to the planned national gun control protest. Crews responded to the 1200 block of Raven Wood Court in the Belcamp area around 2:39 a.m., officials said. The Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company rescued two occupants from the fire, according to Jeremy Drehmer, assistant chief of the Abingdon company. No occupant injuries were reported. One firefighter sustained minor injuries. A preliminary investigation found that the fire was likely accidental and due to discarded fireplace ashes, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. According to a statement from the fire marshal, a third-floor resident woke up to the smell of smoke and found fire on her balcony. The fire quickly spread into the attic of the apartment. The resident and two others in the apartment escaped and activated the alarm to alert others in the complex. Fifteen residents of the apartment building were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross. The fire was placed under control by 4 a.m., according to Drehmer. The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause.