Zack de la Rocha Ups the Rage Against Arizona Immigration Law (naked communist protest)

Billboard ^ | June 28, 2010 2:30 EDT | by David J. Prince, N.Y.

[a fool in paradise]

Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha is stepping up his campaign to compel the state of Arizona to repeal its controversial immigration law. In addition to adding Ry Cooder, Nine Inch Nails, and comedian Chris Rock to the growing list of artists who are refusing to perform there as part of The Sound Strike boycott effort, de la Rocha tells Billboard.com that plans are in the works for a series of protest concerts in July.

"In the coming weeks we are going to be organizing a series of concerts that are respectful of the nature of the boycott in its attempts to isolate the Arizona government but not isolate the people, and especially the organizations that are fighting this on the ground," de la Rocha said in a telephone interview. "Many of us have begun to plan concerts that include bands that have signed on the Sound Strike, and make tickets available so that people within Arizona can come and see these concerts as they roll out. These are things that are being set into motion right now - a series of concerts or maybe even one giant concert in late July."

De la Rocha says that "there's a strong chance" Rage Against the Machine will play one or more of the concerts.

The law passed by the Arizona state legislature, SB1070, requires local authorities to determine a person's immigration status if he or she is suspected of being undocumented. The law is set to be enacted on July 29.

Maroon 5, Gogol Bordello, My Morning Jacket, Ben Harper and Pitbull are among the dozens of artists who today (June 28) announced their support for the Sound Strike effort and have pledged to boycott Arizona, refusing to perform in the state until the law is repealed. Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Anti-Flag, Throwing Muses, State Radio, Aztlan Underground and DJ Spooky also announced support for the effort in a posting on thesoundstrike.net today.

In addition to the dozens of artists announced today, the first in a series of video PSAs were released, featuring de la Rocha, Conor Oberst and Ozomatli. Additional PSAs will be posted to the site every Monday in the weeks leading up to the law's scheduled enactment.

The Sound Strike was launched in late May by de la Rocha to mobilize fellow musicians to participate in the boycott effort, to educate the musicians' fans about the law, and to gather signatures on a petition calling for its repeal. Cypress Hill, Juanes, Conor Oberst, Los Tigres del Norte, Rage Against the Machine, Cafe Tacvba, Kanye West, Calle 13 as well as Oscar winning filmmaker and activist Michael Moore were among the artists who signed on to the campaign at its launch.

"Its been a collaborative effort that started with a letter I sent out, which was passed on to all the guys in Rage Against the Machine, and to various friends I've made while playing in Mexico," de la Rocha said. It spread organically that way. And I've definitely been pooling through everyone I know to continue to push before this law is enacted in just over a month. We're still getting letter in and we have a lot more artists joining on that we'll be announcing in the next few weeks."

While many artists and musicians are supporting the boycott, some in the Arizona music community have questioned the approach, insisting that fans and promoters alike are being unjustly punished. In an open letter to the participating artists, Arizona-based concert promoter Charlie Levy of Stateside Presents urged them to reconsider. "By not performing in Arizona, artists are harming the very people and places that foster free speech and the open exchange of ideas that serve to counter the closed-mindedness recently displayed by the new law," he wrote. "The people who will feel the negative effects of the boycott the deepest are local concert venues, including non-profit art house theatres, independent promoters, motivated fans, and the hundreds of people employed in the local music business. If the boycott continues, it is all but guaranteed that some of these venues will be forced to close their doors."

But de la Rocha disagrees, and promises musicians will return to Arizona in force if their effort is successful.

"Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona legislature have created an environment in Arizona where performing is no longer a neutral act," he said. "They have created an environment where they can convert the normal commercial interaction between artists and their fans into the means to apply this racist law. The relationship between musicians and artists and fans can best be served by standing for human rights and when we prevent this law from coming into action and continue to fight it even if it is enacted, when its removed from the books we're going to have an unbelievable concert - it will be the celebration to end all celebrations."

[woweeitsme]

Wow...I would surely miss him if I lived in Arizona. NOT!

[Commander X]

“The Sound Strike was launched in late May by de la Rocha to mobilize fellow musicians to participate in the boycott effort, to educate the musicians’ fans about the law, and to gather signatures on a petition calling for its repeal. Cypress Hill, Juanes, Conor Oberst, Los Tigres del Norte, Rage Against the Machine, Cafe Tacvba, Kanye West, Calle 13 as well as Oscar winning filmmaker and activist Michael Moore were among the artists who signed on to the campaign at its launch.”

Wow, such important and popular performers..that should teach AZ. Lame bands for a lame cause.

[a fool in paradise]

Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Michael Moore, and other Communist Sympathizers.

Can I get them to boycott Texas TOO?!!!

[joltinjoe]

Tell you what Chris Rock, your movie “Grown Ups” looks funny, but I won’t be seeing it anytime soon.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Zack de la Rocha,

He's just doing what they told him.

[a fool in paradise]

http://www.thesoundstrike.net/content/artist-boycotting-sb-1070

24 THORNS
3 Digit IQ
5ABI KINGS
60 Tigres
A Fashion For Regret
A Map of the Chelsea Leaf
A/Collision
Abyssal Creatures
Afrikan Soul
agdm
Aline Frazao
Amenity
American Werewolf
Andrew Anderson
Anti-Flag
Apollo Poetry (MTV)
art damage
Artists Against Apartheid
Audiojack
Aztlan Underground
BajoxtierrA
Beggars & Thieves
Best of the Worst
BIG Garna
Big Red Marbles
Billy Bragg
Bipolar
Bita Shafipour
Blowback
bonasound
Brass Menazeri Balkan Brass Band
Bravo, Utah!
Caitlin R. Kiernan
Caniform
Carlos Paul
Chachi On acid
Chaela
Changos
Chikita Violenta
Chris Prythm
Chrissy Velia Gurrola
CISCO
Claudio
Claudio Marchesini
Common I
Conflikto Armado
Coyote Bones
Cymbal Rush
Dafne Marahuntha
Dan Sena
dangercats
Daniel Cruz
Dapuntobeat
Dapuntobeat
DAVID
Deschanel
Dezaztre Natural
Dion
Disco Villains
DJ Jonathan E.
DJ Sky Makai
Dj Splinta
DJ Spooky
DJ WORDS
DOM PRO
Drug Money
Echoes Of A Supernova
edelart
El Camino Al Mictlan
El Cuervo de Poe
El Trompo
Eopath
Esperanza Xochitl
Esternocloidemastoideo
esthero
Ex Machina
Face Time Police
Fanfarrosa
farideh
Fasten
FLAN
FLATTBUSH
Flight Orchestra
Fonseca
Fortune & Spirits
From The Pawn
FRONT-LINE GUERRILLA SONORA
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Generic Concession Stand
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GIORDANO MOREL
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Green Flashing Light
Gregory Siff
Groovin Ground
Halston
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herbieman
High Above The Storm
Hue And Cry
hydramelody
iKiLLCaRS
iLL-iteracy
INSITE
J.ALLEN
Jacky Jasper
Jarris Margalli
Jason Cryer
Jeff Hayes
Jmil Kly
Joel BL
John Lee
Jonathan Boulay
Juan Galeano
Juliana Sparks
Junkyard Empire
Ken Rhodes
Kenny Ortega
Kid Cynical
Killa Politik
Killbot Kindergarten
Kimya Dawson
KMGT
KOFRE
KontraGolpeNoiseManifesto
Kyle Harvey
Kyle Vincent
Kymberlee Ann Lopez
L Spice
La 5ta Paralela
La Lupe
La Paz en el Mundo
Le-Ti
Leo Añorve
Leo Añorve
Like Tigers
Lina Zoo
lineasdenazca
Locos por Juana
Lokixximo
London After Midnight
London Bridgez
Lorissa Chapa
Los Faggots
Los Harris
Los Mas Valientes
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Lou Patty
Lowlight
Lucia Pulido
Macula
Mahtie Bush
MAKAR
Maleco Collective
maniqui lazer
Marc Copely
Matt Love
MCRizhock
Meklit Hadero
Mic. Bomb
Mike and Matt
Mincho Jacob
Miri
Monk Turner
Moon Reflecting of Conductors of the OM-Ni-Presence
Mopreme Shakur
Moral Decline
Mr. Shammi
Mujeres Latinas
Mystic
N A E
NEVERODDOREVEN
Nine Inch Nails
Norman LaFave
Oilhead
Op-Critical
Paper Canyons
Pareto
parlour steps
Peter and the Ads
Philip David Morgan
Pistol Youth
Pitbull
Pitstop Romantico
plaver
Post Dessler
Professor Edit
Rage.One
Raiz Muzik
Rebelmatic
Red in my Head
Red State Soundsystem
REYES DEL BAJO MUNDO
Rhondo & The Goodes
Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
Rick Barry
Rick Hart and the Blue Horse Band
RIKKI LA ROUGE
ROBOTANISTS
Rock Out City
Rouchpollito
Rumy Marcelo
Rupa & the April Fishes
Ryan Harvey, Riot-Folk
Ryan Keeley
Ryan Kelly
Sabertooth Tiger
Sage and Eon
Sagrada Escritura
Sessha Batto
Seth Kibel
Shane Bugbee
SHANGRI-LA
Sharlene Holt
Sharpening Markers
Sheila Nicholls
shie moreno
Sigo Siendo Un Fantasma
SJLI
Sleep Wolf Twilight Eyes
Sloppy Joe
smokus pocus
Social Klash
Sofia Alice Radin
Sound Twins
Spider
Spynn
Stephan Said
Sterile Jets
Steven Evetts
Subdue
SUBSISTENCIA
Suicide Contrition
SUPERCHIEF
SURI
Sweet Honey In The Rock
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK®
Teezone
The Alexandria Kleztet
the alien mystic
The Awful Beauty
The Bastard Fairies
The Brass Monkey Band
The Candles
The Coup
The Cran Tangerines
The Cyklones
The Dissociates
The Drink Up, Honey
The F.U.S.S.
The FezTones
The Flails
The Griot
The Insurgency
The Jackmouths
The Janet Terminal
The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre
The Joysticks
The Kokiri Kids
The New Loud
The New Years Gang
The Pointless Forest
The Raptors
the sun seven
The U-Liners
The Whispering Tree
Tibia Aldea
Tom Asakawa
Totec
Triple Overhead Cam
Tsitrainside
Two Kings
Tyrone Murphy
Ugly Girls
Ulrich Ellison
un.real
Underdream
Unidub Estacion
vampire slayer
Veronica Lopez
vio/miré
Virgin Heart Society
ViSE ViRSA
VOLTOR ROCK
Voodoo Train
W. Kamau Bell
We Are Now Awake
WERNER MANUEL MARROQUIN
Workingman
Y Fuego Mod
Yeasayer
Zac Rossetto

[Army Air Corps]

So, a bunch of self-absorbed, washed-up has beens and no-name performers are boycotting the state. Gads, this is all it takes to keep them out of a state? Note to the Texas Legislature - please convene an emergency session and pass an immigration law like Arizona’s!

[a fool in paradise]

After Dion, Rage Against America, Cypress Hill, and Nine Inch Nails (didn't three of those 4 play Lollopalooza in the early 1990s?), there aren't a whole lot of "known" artists on the full list.

Steve Earle got a Chevy ad (the Communist tinged, "The Revolution Starts Now!") but I doubt he gets much radio play.

[Tzimisce]

Another rock star who won’t work for less than 6 figures lecturing the rest of us about greed. What a douche!

[Mr. Lucky]

Jeez, Indiana is not a border state and manual farm labor here is largely handled by Amish children, but it would be worth adopting an Arizona type law if it would keep that list of losers out of state.

[Army Air Corps]

Steve Earle is the wanker who wrote the paean to the “American Taliban.”

[Mr. Jeeves]

Hmmmm...all of music’s titans. :)

[Army Air Corps]

Yeah, just try to get a bootleg of RAM’s music and I bet their lawyers will sue you into oblivion. They are peddlers of socialism, not practicioners thereof (that crap is for the rest of us, not them).

[God luvs America]

zach cock-a-roach and his band were never anything more than a bunch of American hating leftists who did nothing but gripe about everyone and anything in this county.....all of cock-a-roaches songs were nothing more than b!tch session against America as were the concerts....

he and his band are nothing more than a bunch of tightly wound wusses who never took hold of their opportunity...he sees this as his chance to once again b!tch about America and get back in the spotlight....

[Army Air Corps]

Another rock star who won’t work for less than 6 figures lecturing the rest of us about greed. What a douche!

"The Revolution will be commodified!" :-)

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

and make tickets available so that people within Arizona can come and see these concerts as they roll out.

Making a bit of change from the lib-lemmings. Leftist rock-n-rollers are still playing from the Woodstock play book.

[Still Thinking]

They have created an environment where they can convert the normal commercial interaction between artists and their fans into the means to apply this racist law.WTF? Is he trying to say people are going to get arrested for attending a concert? Did he just select a bunch of words at random from the dictionary when composing that sentence?

[Cyber Liberty]

Wow! A veritable “Who’s Who?” of “Who Dat.”

[Vision]

Meanwhile CA cites are backtracking on their boycotts.