Video After The Jump
Arizona's controversial new anti-immigration law SB 1070 continues to draw boycotts and protests.
Kanye West has joined a protest being organized by Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine dubbed "The Sound Strike".
The protest movement is growing larger as artists refuse to perform in Arizona as long as the law is in place. Singer Shakira was recently in Phoenix speaking with Mayor Phil Gordon and other government officials to discuss the controversial legislation.
Pitbull and Cypress Hill recently canceled shows there and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Disturbing Tha Peace artist Willy Northpole just released a new video "Back To Mexico" as a show of solidarity between blacks and mexicans.
Sonic Youth, Joe Satriani, Massive Attack, Tenacious D, film maker Michael Moore and many others are participating.
De la Rocha sent out a press release on Tuesday (May 25) that read in part.
"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 school, from home to work, or when they just roll out with their friends.
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."
SB 1070 allows police officers to stop and question people they "reasonably suspect" of being in the United States illegally.
To read more on the protest and see the full list of artists participating and sign the petition go to www.thesoundstrike.net.
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Willy Northpole "Back To Mexico"
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