‘Chuck(les) For Queens’: Chuck Park hosts comedy fundraiser for Congressional campaign

“We had a packed house, great performers and great fun,” Park said. “It was a fun break from doomscrolling, terrible headlines, fear and the horrible things happening in the world. It’s great to be in a room with a lot of laughs and locals just enjoying themselves.”

The event was produced by Paid Protest, which hosts a monthly comedy show and fundraiser for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to fund left-leaning causes and local candidates like Park.

Among the evening’s performers were Ginny Hogan — who emceed the two-hour event — Sharif Hasan, Anders Lee, Annette Mulaney, Felipe Torres Medina, Freddy G, James Mwaura and five comedians from FoHi Improv. 

Park opened the show with a brief two-minute speech discussing his campaign and his hope for improving the quality of life if elected into office.

“That’s my life as a candidate — I’m exhausted and knocking on doors talking to other people who are exhausted,” Park said. “They’re exhausted with bills, with not having health care, and with kids and no after-school care. It’s serious, but it’s also funny and absurd because we are the richest f—ing country in the world. We have enough, and we can be a lot less exhausted and a lot happier if we didn’t have these clowns in the White House and Congress.”

Many of the comedians who performed poked fun at Park and openly discussed the sociopolitical issues dominating this year’s election, such as immigration, war and conflict in the Middle East, and Park’s opponent, Meng.

Park even participated in an improv segment in which the comics were tasked with “reenacting” photos from a family slideshow. Park and the group contorted themselves into funny positions while two of the comics — pretending to be a husband and wife — began describing “memories” from family vacations.

Hogan, who lives in Congressional District 6, which is currently represented by Meng, said she isn’t happy with the congresswoman’s leadership and was excited when she saw Park running for office against her.

After checking out his platform, Hogan reached out to him on Instagram and now runs his campaign’s social media accounts.

“I really liked what he was running on,” Hogan said. “He’s really met the moment in terms of his willingness to speak up about dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party in general — especially in Queens.”

Among her top issues this election cycle are abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, and getting big money out of politics — which are all pillars of Park’s campaign.

The comic expressed distrust of Meng’s leadership, explaining that she does not like that the current congresswoman accepts money from Political Action Committees (PACs).

“I don’t think she pushes hard on the legislation she claims to support,” she said. “In general, I think she’s kind of absent.”

She said she felt as though this were a broader issue with establishment Democrats, whom she said have not actually stood up to Trump with an affirmative vision — something she said Park, on the other hand, does possess.

The goal of the comedy show, Hogan continued, was to show that politics can be more than depressing headlines and dry speeches.

She said as a comic herself, who performs all over Queens often posts clips to her social media accounts at @ginnyhogan_, she often connects with local comics.

“There’s so many funny people in Queens,” Hogan emphasized. “I think politics can be a downer sometimes, but we wanted to make it joyful because [Park’s] campaign really is.”

Park said that’s precisely what his goal was for the comedy show.

“I’m not a comedian, and I think there’s a lot going on that’s not so funny,” he said. “But I think humor is such a powerful way to cut through the B.S. It’s the opposite of smarminess, and it’s the opposite of inauthenticity. When it’s done right, it speaks truth to power.”

For more information about upcoming events for Park’s campaign, visit ChuckForQueens.com or check out his Instagram account, ChuckForQueens.