Justin Lee Brannan
Justin Lee Brannan (born October 14, 1978) is an Italian-American artist, small business owner, community activist and organizer from Bay Ridge Brooklyn. He is the founding member of New York City hardcore bands Indecision and Most Precious Blood.[1]
Personal life
Brannan is an outspoken vegetarian and animal welfare advocate. A Third Degree Master Freemason, Brannan is currently President of the Bay Ridge Democrats, an active Democratic political club based in southwest Brooklyn.[2][3] In 2012 he was named one of the "New York City Rising Stars: 40 Under 40" by City & State Newspaper for his work as Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for City Councilman Vincent Gentile.[4]
Brannan is married to artist & educator Leigh Jewel Holliday.[5] The couple were married in the lobby of Bear Stearns where they met as employees.[5]
Brannan studied journalism and mass media at Fordham University and The College of Staten Island. He has worked for Bear Stearns,[6] Bank of New York, and Bankers Trust. He later worked as a commercial announcer for WNEW-FM[7] where he was the de facto shop steward for The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. While at WNEW, Brannan represented and defended the interests of his fellow employees and advocated to get all union employees retroactively paid for decades of overtime work on weekends and overnights.
Career
Music career
Both bands were known for their outspoken commitment to social justice and vegetarianism. Though the sound was raw, their messages focused on social justice, human rights, environmentalism, relationships, individuality and espousing straight-edge views against drugs, alcohol and promiscuous sex.
Indecision is widely known for their song "Hallowed be Thy Name". The song features a lyric ("For Those I Love I Will Sacrifice") that fans across the world have turned into a tattoo.[8] Most famously, the image of the tattoo on the ribs of a 19-year-old US Army Infantryman named Kyle Hockenberry being treated in a medevac helicopter following an explosion that cost him both of his legs and one arm.[9] The photo was taken for a military newspaper and went on to win photographer Laura Rauch an award from the Society of Professional Journalists.[1][10][11][7][6][9] Justin also works closely with the 9/11 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation commemorating the heroes of 9/11 and "Building for America’s Bravest", a program that constructs Smart Homes for military returning home with devastating injuries.
Finance and political career
Brannan was a touring punk rock musician before he landed at Bear Stearns[12] working his way up as a clerk in their wealth management division [13] and working as a financier[14] in the venture capital space raising money for start-up alternative energy companies based in Silicon Valley. He later worked as a fundraising consultant for a number of non-profit humanitarian organizations in New York City.
He currently[when?] serves as the Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for Council member Vincent J. Gentile, representing the 43rd District which includes Bay Ridge, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights and portions of Bensonhurst. In this role, Brannan was profiled by The New York Times.[6][5]
References
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