RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Guitarist Comments On U.K. Riots

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist and political activist Tom Morello spoke to Rock Sound magazine about the current unrest in the U.K. He had the following to say on the matter:

"I have been following matters in the U.K. rather closely and I think it's no accident that over the course of the last year we've seen this kind of social unrest around the globe from the Arab Spring, to the riots in Spain and Greece caused by the austerity measures and the 100,000 people seen on the streets of Wisconsin as working-class people stood up for their union rights.

"When people have the opportunity to look forward to a bright future with educational opportunities, safety, security and a positive economic outlook, they do not take to the streets and riot.

"When people are standing at the lip of the abyss, looking into a future of poverty, deprivation and crime, that is when the powder-keg is set to be lit.

"As the gap between rich and poor grows more grotesque around the globe, it's really no surprise that the incidents we've seen in the U.K. recently are occurring.

"I originally found out about the unrest through emails and tweets from friends in the U.K. who were referencing certain RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE songs. How it impacts me emotionally is that firstly I'm concerned for the safety of everybody involved, but overall, it just deeply stirs the fire of my anger at the gross injustice that exists around the globe. In the midst of these austerity measures you know that the U.K.'s billionaires are not turning their yachts in but the people in communities across the U.K. find themselves living in desperate economic conditions with no future to look forward to. On the one hand. I'm concerned for safety. but at the same time I understand.

"I think it's part of a bigger global picture. The people who run this planet just don't deserve to, and as long as the profit motive is primary in setting world affairs you are going to have this kind of gross inequality and this kind of response.

"Something's got to give and I would not exempt what's happening in the U.K. from the rest of the world. The circumstances are different in each place but the overarching desire of humanity to stand against tyranny and want a decent life for themselves and their family in universal."