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RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Frontman Leads New Arizona Boycott

May 27, 2010

The Pulse of Radio reports that RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE frontman Zack de la Rocha is leading a new boycott of Arizona by musicians in protest of the state's controversial immigration law. According to Billboard.com, de la Rocha has enlisted acts such as RISE AGAINST, Serj Tankian, Joe Satriani, CYPRESS HILL, Kanye West, SONIC YOUTH and others, along with filmmaker Michael Moore, to join what he is calling the Sound Strike.

De la Rocha wrote in an open letter: "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 work, or when they just roll out with their friends."

The Arizona law, SB1070, requires local authorities to determine a person's immigration status if he or she is suspected of being undocumented. Critics have said it could lead to racial profiling or unconstitutional searches.

De la Rocha has set up a web site for the Sound Strike campaign, asking other musicians to join the boycott and fans to sign a petition asking Arizona lawmakers to repeal the law.

CYPRESS HILL and rapper Pitbull have already canceled upcoming shows in Arizona, along with a number of regional acts.

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