WATCH: A New Anthem for the Occupy Movement: #FilmThePolice

The above image, which depicts Lt. John Pike of the UC Davis Police pepper spraying students engaged in an Occupy protest, has become infamous in the past month. The photo and accompanying video have been viewed by millions, and even become the subject of a popular internet meme.

There's something else going on in this photo, however... an overlooked detail that I believe makes it even more important and iconic. Look at all those cameras!

At no other time in history have citizens had such powerful tools for mass media communication at their disposal. As a direct result, the images that ignite change and expose oppression are being captured and disseminated faster than ever. The old protest chant "The Whole World is Watching!" is truer today than ever before.

In this spirit, and in memory of victims of police brutality like Oscar Grant and Aiyana Jones, I reached out to several fellow rappers and frequent collaborators to create "FILM THE POLICE," a song to remind and inform people of their right to document police activity at any time, anywhere.

Reaction to the video has been bigger than any of us predicted. Logging 70,000 views in its first week online, it's been shared and endorsed by Anonymous Central, several national and international Occupy groups, and a roster of humbling names that includes Michael Moore, Billy Bragg, and Davey D among others.

The video, compiled in the space of a week on a shoestring budget, is a perfect example of the point being demonstrated: We are the 99%, and We are the New Media.

Thanks to everyone that's shared and endorsed this video in the past week, and to the Huffington Post for giving me this space to respond!

WATCH:
B. DOLAN - "FILM THE POLICE" ft. TOKI WRIGHT, JASIRI X, SAGE FRANCIS & BUDDY PEACE

 

 

Follow B. Dolan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BDOLANSFR

Comments

[mplsdiva]

06:17 PM on 12/19/2011

Love it. Great throwback to NWA's F%$K the Police.

[sugarpops]

02:22 PM on 12/19/2011

Powerful and effective.
To the people who find some of the language offensive, it is less offensive than the reality of how the citizens of the USA have been abused by the 1% and their lackies.
There are going to be many more people flocking to Occupy with the return of our military from Iraq.

[Ronald Halverson]

01:09 PM on 12/19/2011

This song is awesome. It says what a lot of people are thinking. It also illustrates why the powers that be are scared ********.

[B. Dolan]

12:42 PM on 12/19/2011

Reality is harsh. Images of police brutality are harsh. From a marketing standpoint, the truth is rarely convenient. I'm sorry if it offends your sensibilities, but I also think the message deserves to be spoken without those considerations or self-censoring.

As a teacher and a mom, I trust you will find other ways to spread the message if it's important to you, which I hope it is. Thanks!

[Voodoomojo]

04:00 PM on 12/19/2011

"...I also think the message deserves to be spoken without those considerat­ions or self-censo­ring."
I can respect that.

[Voodoomojo]

11:47 AM on 12/19/2011

Just my humble opinion....While I appreciate and understand your sentiment and share in the anger over the treatment of our fellow citizens, the use of curse words detracts from the message here. From a marketing standpoint, I would think that you'd want your message to reach as many people as possible. By using harsh curse words, you've cut your target audience dramatically. Also, speaking as a teacher and as a mom, the curse words immediately turned me off. The message of police brutality, fascism, and democracy is one that needs to be learned by future generations (because apparently, our current leading generation isn't going to learn the message so easily). But the offensive language makes it harder to do so.