On April 23 of this year, the ‘Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act’ (AKA Senate Bill 1070 or SB 1070) was signed into Arizona state law. The new law has been called the US nation’s toughest on illegal immigration and has raised widespread criticism and outrage.
SB 1070 makes it an offense for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying registration documents with them. It also gives police the power to stop those suspected of being illegal immigrants and demand proof of citizenship. Opponents of the law say it encourages racial profiling and constitutes state sanctioned racism while supporters say it only helps enforce pre-existing laws. The controversial nature of this bill has roused many into action including many artists and musicians.
The Sound Strike, partially organized by Zack de la Rocha of the very politically active band Rage Against the Machine, is a organization of over a hundred artists who have committed to boycott playing any live shows in the state of Arizona as long as the law remains on the books. Among the artists who have joined the protest are Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Rise Against, and Serj Tankian of System of a Down. An up-to-date list of all the participating artists can be found on the Sound Strike website. However, while so many have joined the Sound Strike not all opponents of the bill are united in their opinion on the best way to protest.
Back in April, the Montreal band Stars were one of the first musical groups to boycott playing Arizona. On their twitter Stars posted that “until [Arizona’s] racist new immigration law is repealed, stars (and many others) will boycott this state”. Damian Abraham of the Toronto based band F**ked Up, via his own twitter account, responded to Stars with this post.
“Don’t get me wrong, I think the AZ immigration bill is horrible and must be repealed but I also think that indie bands boycotting the state is inane. Do Stars honestly think that by denying the state their brand of dreamy pop that they’re going to force the governor’s hand? All this does is not give the people that like your band enough credit and assumes that they are in someway supportive of the bill.”
Abraham then suggested to “keep playing Arizona, using the shows as an opportunity to engage the people there to get involved (they are the ones after all capable to affecting change in the state)…” to which Stars politely reaffirmed their faith in the power of the boycott.
Others are also in agreement with Abraham. On June 24th Charlie Levy of Stateside Presents, an Arizona promotion agency, published an open letter to all the artists boycotting the state. Here is an excerpt from that letter.
“The truth is, a boycott is an easy gesture that doesn’t require much more than a statement and removing a date from your tour schedule. However, if you truly care about the effects of the controversial immigration law that was passed, this is an opportunity to use your unique position as an artist with the ability to reach thousands of people to inspire, educate, and motivate your fans to actively be a part of the change.”
What do you think about SB 1070 and about the various forms of protest that are being employed? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.
I personally think that Twitter is the best social media network music artists and bands can get promotion. Many well-known celebs/music artists and bands right now began from Twitter. Much like Marie Digby and Arnel Pineda, the new singers of the actual music group Journey. Many of them are implementing a tool like TweetAttacks to get the real followers in a "dirty way".