Soundstrike - Artists Vs. Arizona SB-1070

Unless you have been living totally without media influence the past few months, you have heard about, and most likely formed an opinion on, Arizona's Senate Bill 1070. SB1070 gives Arizona law enforcement agents passage to require citizenship documentation from anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant (for more information on the bill, see Dean Cody's article, United States vs. Arizona - the Battle Over SB1070 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5577104/united_states_vs_arizona_the_battle.html?cat=75). The law has been met with a lot of negative reaction from people across the continent.

L.A. based Rage Against the Machine have set out to stop this law by organizing Soundstrike, of which the ultimate goal is a formal letter to be signed by several largely recognizable names in the music industry, saying that if the law is passed in full, they refuse to book shows in the state. "What if we got together, signed a collective letter saying, 'we're not going to ride the bus,' saying we are not going to comply. We are not going to play in Arizona." Rage singer Zach de la Rocha said of the goal, comparing their protest of SB-1070 to Rosa Parks' refusal to vacate her seat on the bus.

Several bands have joined the movement including, but not limited to, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Calle 13, Kanye West, Spank Rock, Tenacious D and Sonic Youth. Cypress Hill and Pitbull have already cancelled concerts in the state. Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore has also signed up with the strike.

On Friday, July 23rd, 2010, Rage Against the Machine and Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band will play a special benefit show at the Hollywood Palladium, to raise money to support Puente Arizona and the Florence Project, organizations working to fight this bill, which takes "racial profiling...to a whole new low," to quote de la Rocha.

Of course, as is the case with any protest movement, there are those who don't agree, those who agree but don't want to "make waves," and those who don't participate because they don't believe it will make a difference. Singer and Lilith Fair member Belinda Carlisle publicly announced that she wanted the Arizona date of the tour to be canceled but the announcement was soon retracted. Latin rock band Los Lobos "publicly considered" joining the boycott but never actually followed through. But even against the opposition to their movement, Rage Against the Machine and the rest of the Soundstrike participants soldier on with their original plans. Visit www.thesoundstrike.net for updates as the protest continues.