Tom Morello At Occupy SF: Rage Against The Machine Rocker Rallies Crowd, Gives Away Tickets (VIDEO)

On Friday afternoon, rocker Tom Morello -- the Grammy Award-winning guitarist from Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and the Nightwatchman -- visited Occupy San Francisco to show support and rally the crowd.

Before a crowd of about 100 people, Morello took the microphone and thanked the occupiers for "raising their voices" against the one percent of Americans who control over 40 percent of the nation's wealth. He then targeted Barack Obama for not prosecuting those who contributed to the recession and the economic disparity of the general public:

They have caused so much pain and economic disadvantage for so many people, it is a crime, and it's a crime that so far has gone unprosecuted. Now if our president, Barack Obama does not have the courage to close Guantanamo Bay, then I have this suggestion: that perhaps he opens those animal cages up and puts in some of those Wall Street criminals for what they've done.

The crowd cheered wildly along with Morello as he spoke. "I used to think I was alone," he said. "But I ain't alone anymore."

Twitter reports from earlier in the day rumored that Morello had planned to perform after his speech. "Now I'd originally planned to play for you all, but I've changed my mind," he said. "I have a better idea." Morello then handed out 100-150 free tickets to his show at Great American Music Hall on Friday night, much to the delight of the crowd.

Watch part of Morello's speech in HuffPost's video below:

 

 

Comments

[Cranmer1549]

01:04 PM on 10/24/2011

Tom: thank you for all that you do! You really do walk the walk, unlike Zack.

[skyhigh139]

01:21 PM on 10/23/2011

this guy is the real mc coy, walking the walk, this music, and these bands
are at the top when it comes to "system is the enemy" very powerful, sort
of like alex jones

[Tater Salad]

10:25 AM on 10/22/2011

Does the song Sleep Now In the Fire sound true now? I think so. And the video is quite fitting as well.

[joanimal]

01:16 PM on 10/22/2011

truth

[Phreejazz]

03:12 AM on 10/23/2011

A bit ironic though, too ...

"So raise your fists
And march around
Just don't take what you need"

[Tater Salad]

11:15 AM on 10/23/2011

Very ironic when you look at the whole message it sent back then and seeing fulfilled before your very eyes.

[Abby Kravis]

09:26 AM on 10/22/2011

does celebrity participation in Occupy protests lessen the substance of the movement?
http://littlebiggy.org/4660547

[MChile124]

11:19 AM on 10/22/2011

Not this guy.
I DO think that if Angelina Jolie showed up that would hurt, if only because I think many people are kinda sick of her, and for some reason people believe that celebrities shouldn't have or don't deserve opinions. While I don't put any more weight on their opinions than the non-public figures, I don't subscribe to that idea.
But Tom Morello, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, showing up to sing? This sort of thing is what created them. It wouldn't be the same without them, I think it even legitimizes the protest to anyone doubters.

[juandiggla]

08:33 PM on 10/22/2011

not when the "celebrity" is a member of an anti government band that nearly caused a riot at the democratic national convention in LA back in 2000......
"Rage against the machine played a free show at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in 2000 that erupted in chaos when police rushed in and used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, who they said had gathered unlawfully."

[Forest GreenMan]

02:09 AM on 10/22/2011

Good on him

[PorrickSF]

10:07 PM on 10/21/2011

It continues to gain momentum... It's good to see high profile people voicing their support.

We are the 99% and we will be heard.

[PhilipTaylor]

09:14 PM on 10/21/2011

ZERO EFFORT ON ENFORCING THE R1C0 LAWS AND MISREPRESENTATION OF PRODUCT AND INSIDER TRADING LAWS ON THE BOOKS - Obama says he is leaving that to the DO NOTHING HOLDER!

 
Obama's plan is to BLAME the 90% H8TED CONGRESS (WORST IN HISTORY) BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN HIM TO WIN IN 2012 - AS HE HAS DONE NOTHING TO HAUL IN THE CRIMINALS AND CLEAN UP THE FRAUD ON WALL STREET and SAN FRANCISCO FINANCIAL DISTRICT AND ACROSS FIVE OTHER ANTIQUATED FRAUD DRIVEN INDUSTRIES! 

“...to me it might be time to wonder if this is the most disappointing president we’ve ever had.”

 
 -- MATT TAIBBI

[Timur Graham]

03:18 PM on 10/23/2011

The professional left.. sigh

[Politidelic]

02:24 PM on 10/24/2011

I think a lot of people like yourself expected too much from this president. The most disappointing president we've ever had? That's the biggest bunch of bulls**t I've heard today. Just look at the list of ex-presidents, I can pick many others that were more disappointing.

[JacksonAndy78]

08:42 PM on 10/21/2011

NOT 0NE CR1M1NAL BANK.STER IN PR1S0N AND N0 1NVEST1GAT10NS!

PUT 44,000 WH1TE-C0L.LAR FRAUD.STERS IN PR1S0N!

[Viable Way]

08:46 PM on 10/21/2011

Don't you have to change the laws first? EX POST FACTO laws are still unconstitutional. I am not saying they aren't RIGHT!

[PhilipTaylor]

09:16 PM on 10/21/2011

LOT OF BROKEN LWAS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS TO PUT THESE CR00KS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO FINANCIAL DISTRICT AWAY!


SEE ABOVE!

[JacksonAndy78]

08:41 PM on 10/21/2011

NOT ONE CRIMINAL BANKSTER IN PR1S0N AND NO INVESTIGATIONS!

PUT 44,000 WH1TE-C0LLAR FRAUDSTERS IN PR1S0N!

[JacksonAndy78]

08:40 PM on 10/21/2011

OCCUPY HEROS AGAINST THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT SCAMMERS!