RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Plays Hometown Protest Concert Today

The Pulse of Radio reports: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE will play its first hometown show in over a decade when it plays the Hollywood Palladium today (Friday, July 23) in Los Angeles. The gig, which will also feature Conor Oberst and the MYSTIC VALLEY BAND, is a benefit concert protesting Arizona's controversial illegal immigration law and has been organized by Sound Strike, a coalition of artists brought together against the law by RAGE frontman Zack De la Rocha and Oberst.

Earlier this week, RAGE held a press conference at the Palladium and were joined by Chris Newman, lead counsel in the fight against Arizona SB 1070, among various activists. During the conference, de la Rocha said, "This is not a Latino or immigration issue. This is a battle for basic human dignity"

Spinner.com reports that in addition to discussing the immigration controversy, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello said, "Not only is this RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's first show in our hometown of Los Angeles in 10 years, it is the only North American show RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE will do this year."

The show will also be RAGE's first U.S. gig in nearly two years. The band reunited in 2007 after breaking up seven years earlier.

The band's last protest concert was outside the 2008 Republican National Convention, which almost turned into a riot.

Critics say that the Arizona law encourages racial profiling. De la Rocha told Rolling Stone in 1999 that he was faced with bigotry in his hometown of Irvine, California, saying, "I told myself that I would never be silent again. I would never allow myself to not respond to that type of situation — in any form, anywhere."

Proceeds from the show will benefit immigrants rights organizations, including the Florence Project and Puente, Arizona.

The Arizona law is slated to take effect July 29.

A number of artists, including RAGE, NINE INCH NAILS, BEN HARPER, MAROON 5 and others, refuse to perform in Arizona until the law is lifted.