The group called Sound Strike led by Los Angeles rockers Rage Against The Machine and featuring Kanye West, Cypress Hill, Massive Attack and System of Downs Serj Tankian, are boycotting performing shows in Arizona until Law SB 1070 is amended.
Kanye West Tour Won't Stop In Arizona -The Immigration Laws Are Not Working in Arizon
The law requires police officers to question people about their immigration status, if they are stopped for a legitimate reason and there is a suspicion they are in the US illegally. It is estimated that half a million people in the southern border state of Arizona are without a green card or any documentation. There was a meeting held on Friday (May 28th). The meeting was a formal face to face discussion between state and federal representatives over the issue.
The Rage & Other Musicians Speaks Out -To Boycott Arizona
In April Arizona passed a law requiring the police to check the immigration status of people suspected of being in the US illegally. In a statement, Rage against the Machine’s lead singer Zach de la Rocha said “Some of us grew up with racial profiling, but this law takes it to a whole new low.” Writing on the groups website de la Rocha described the situation as* “critical.” He concluded that “We are not going to be playing in Arizona. We are going to boycott Arizona. If other states follow the direction of Arizona we could be headed a pre-civil rights era reality.”(BBC-Music Newsbeat-6/02/10)
Supporters of the bill say that the legislation will protect lawful residents. As recently as last week a group of United States Police Chiefs held a meeting with US Attorney General Eric Holder warning him that the law could increase crime in the state of Arizona when it’s introduced at the end of July, this summer. US President Barack Obama has been critical of the bill and the law calling it “misguided” and has asked Attorney General Holder to look into the possibility of court challenge against it. Arizona’s Attorney General said after the meeting on Friday that his state did not need lawsuits, but rather solutions to the problem of illegal immigration.
Kanye West & Others Like Bono of U2 Have Taken On Causes Like Boycotting Arizona
Besides President Obama a number of federal officials have openly criticize the new law including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. But Arizona lawmakers say they were forced to pass the law because of lax federal enforcement of existing immigration regulation.
Artist like Kanye West have famously used their music and status to stage political protest in the past. U2’s Bono used the bands most recent tour to highlight his support of the Burmese’s political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi. In 2006, Morrissey boycotted playing gigs in Canada, in protest of the country’s annual seal hunt. All the way back to Live Aid music's elite have lended a hand or took on worldwide issues of the day including Kanye West. Rage Against The machine themselves has been outspoken many times including on opposing the war in Iraq and more recently on the closure of a farm in Los Angeles.
References
- BBC-Music Newsbeat-June 2/ 2010-Kanye West & Rage boycott Arizona
- BBC Worldwide News -May 29/2010 Us Federal and Arizona Official to Meet
Jim Galloway - Professional Musician/Published Songwriter for 30 yrs. With over 200 Articles in Recording/Music Buisness/ Resources/Vintage Instruments
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