Rage Against The Machine have clubbed together with a number of bands and artists to boycott the US State of Arizona over the desert state’s new immigration laws. Sonic Youth, Massive Attack, Serj Tankian of System of a Down and Kanye West have also joined the alliance named The Sound Strike.
The law, given the bureaucratic title called SB 1070, allows police in Arizona to question anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant, and detain people they reasonably suspect are in the country without authorization and to verify their status with federal officials, unless doing so would hinder an investigation or emergency medical treatment.
It also makes it a state crime – a misdemeanor – to not carry immigration papers. In addition, it allows people to sue local government or agencies if they believe federal or state immigration law is not being enforced.
Speaking on behalf of the acts involved, Zach de la Rocha told www.thesoundstrike.net “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.”
Acts and film stars who have joined the alliance now include:
Cypress Hill
Juanes
Conor Oberst
Los Tigres del Norte
Rage Against The Machine
Cafe Tacvba
Micheal Moore
Kanye West
Calle 13
Joe Satriani
Serj Tankian
Rise Against
Ozomatli
Sabertooth Tiger
Massive Attack
One Day as a Lion
Street Sweeper Social Club
Spank Rock
Sonic Youth
Tenacious D
