Celebrities
By Tim Saunders on June 2, 2010
A long list of artists have joined a group actively protesting new immigration laws in Arizona, refusing to play gigs in the state until the laws are changed.
The new law – called SB 1070 – allows police to question any individuals they suspect are illegal immigrants, and all legal immigrants are required to carry registration documents at all times.
Rage Against The Machine singer Zack de la Rocha is spearheading the group, which includes Cypress Hill, Juanes, Conor Oberst, Michael Moore, Kanye West, Joe Satriani, Rise Against, Massive Attack, Sonic Youth, Jack Black's Tenacious D and many others.
“We are reaching out to get your ear for a minute about this critical situation in Arizona,” says Zack. "If you haven’t heard, the Arizona state legislature passed a bill (SB 1070) that was signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer that legalizes and sanctions racial profiling. Straight up.
“It forces the cops to hunt down and target anyone they “reasonably suspect” that may be undocumented. And if the people they harass don’t have proof that they were born in the U.S., they can be detained and arrested. This must be stopped.
“Fans of our music, our stories, our films and our words can be pulled over and harassed every day because they are brown or black, or for the way they speak, or for the music they listen to. People who are poor like some of us used to be could be forced to live in a constant state of fear while just doing what they can to find work and survive. This law opens the door for them to be shaked down, or even worse, detained and deported while just trying to travel home from school, from home to work, or when they just roll out with their friends.
“Some of us grew up dealing with racial profiling, but this law (SB 1070) takes it to a whole new low. If other states follow the direction of the Arizona government, we could be headed towards a pre-civil rights era reality. This unjust law was set into motion by the same Arizona government that refused to acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. day as a national holiday.
“When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, they arrested her. As a result, people got together and said we are not going to ride the bus until they change the law. It was this courageous action that sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. What if we got together, signed a collective letter saying, “we’re not going to ride the bus”, saying we are not going to comply. We are not going to play in Arizona. We are going to boycott Arizona!"
The action follows earlier protests by Ricky Martin, Shakira, George Lopez and Eva Longoria.
To sign a petition and join the artists in their fight against racism, click here.
about 1 year ago
This exactly is the problem, hate/ignorance.
I live in Arizona, the racism against us Hispanics is unbearable. We are constance target of police. The "NAZI" Joe Arpaio is known to hate and target us(fact), he only targets minority communities. Why doesn't target: Scottsdale,Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills?or a middle class all Caucasian community?because they are not his target.WE ARE!
How sick has Arizona become, our lovely governor Jan Brewer wants to "CUT" Ahcss (free health care for the poor) so how much does she care for low income families, how will they pay for health insurance? knowing unemployment rate is growing once again. In Arizona, if your not "high class" republican, your out.
You will be treated unfairly, because of what you believe in, remember all the hate we infiltrate in our children's mind gets observe, then they become terrorist, remember columbine? most recent congress women Gabriel Gifford's, he hated her believes,that he not only shot her but killed innocent bystanders.
Oh and one other thing, immigrants pay taxes.
They have a TIN number where they file taxes, but surprisingly don't get a cent back. Some don't pay taxes,yes you are right, but they get pay less then minimum wage, abuse? yes! and most don't get pay at all, because their "gringo" abusive boss decides to call the police, scarring most,abuse yes!
Most immigrants are NOT Mexican, they come from all over the world, Italia, Philippines, Russia, Cuba, Salvador, Australia ect.
All terrorist are NOT Muslims, that again is ignorance.Remind me again why are we fighting a war, oh yes to take their oil,land, and get power over it's land and people. To strip a country of their believes and culture, and Americanize them, bring in McDonald's and Walmarts. Help a corrupted country,fight against poverty ect. Huh? really why are we trying to help the rest of the world when our Country is falling apart. So the war "Bush oil War" is not creating hate, with our soldiers dieing because of greed, someones need of "more"power. Why must we try to control the world, when we cant keep our states together.
Only in America, we fight poverty, by removing free health care, only in America we fight hunger by feeding the Rich and kicking the poor. Only in America, we give the Rich a tax break fattening their wallets.
Only in America,people like me,don't get heard.
over 1 year ago
John and Joey are right.
This is where the lies should stop. Stop trying to stir up racial hatred by misquoting the law. Without sane, legal immigration our society would be in chaos. And there ALREADY IS a legal way to become a citizen and many proud Americans do it every day.
over 1 year ago
first of all if you had any understanding of the law Rage against the machine you would know that it is not made to do any racial profiling. the person being question has to have commited a crime and then be susupected of being an illegal immigrant. as a mexican american i have no probablem with this law that the government should have enforced. and dont get me started about the jack ass we have in office now.
over 1 year ago
Love R.A.T.M. music and political views but I think they are wrong on their stance against Arizona. To me if you were'nt born here and don't pay taxes or vote you shouldn't be able to work or live in our country. Have you ever seen the mexican rules for immagrants?? Look it up
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