Published at 10:00 AM on June 2, 2010

Rage Against the Machine Calls For Boycott of Arizona

Rage Against the Machine Calls For Boycott of Arizona

Arizona state legislature’s bill SB 1070, perhaps the most controversial anti-illegal immigration measure most of us can remember, has been sparking flurries of media coverage and debate since its introduction in late April. Now, several musicians, spurred by a letter from Rage Against the Machine’s singer Zack de la Rocha, have contributed their efforts to the cause as well.

In an effort to protest the law, which de la Rocha writes “legalizes and sanctions racial profiling,” he’s promoting The Sound Strike, a collection of musicians in support of a boycott of the state of Arizona due to its passage of the SB 1070 act. According to a press statement released on The Sound Strike’s website, artists like Cypress Hill, Juanes, Conor Oberst, Kanye West, Spank Rock and Tenacious D are only a handful of many who have committed to joining Rage Against the Machine in this endeavor—all have agreed not to play in Arizona until further notice.

The press release on the site decries the anti-immigration measure, which makes it a state misdemeanor crime for an alien to be in Arizona without federal documentation proving their citizenship. On it, de la Rocha urges, “We are asking artists the world over to stand with us, and not allow our collective economic power to be used to aid and abet civil and human rights violations that will be caused by Arizona’s odious law.” Artists and civilians alike interested in joining the cause can sign the petition here.

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