In light of Arizona's immigration bill that was signed into law in April by Gov. Jan Brewer, several musicians converged last month in boycotting the state for future performances until SB 1070 is repealed.
This effort, dubbed The Sound Strike, was started by Rage Against the Machine singer Zach de la Rocha and filmmaker Michael Moore on May 25. Since then, acts such as Kanye West, Calle 13, Cypress Hill and Sonic Youth among others have joined the movement. Yet, at the same time, other artists have taken a different -- albeit no less inspired -- approach.
Bassnectar, the popular electronic musician, openly deliberated on his Facebook page about adding his name to the list before eventually posting the following message earlier this month:
I have no interest in boycotting Arizona, i think any state that has such misguided and illogical legislation needs more love and attention, not less. I am anti-racist and anti-religious. I think people in this country need to listen more, discuss more, and practice thinking critically. I also think we need to resort less to sound bytes and corporate news...
Boycotting a good, industry or location is commonly among the first actions considered when confronting a social issue. But an approach like that of Bassnectar's has the potential for greater social mobilization and inspiration, while Sound Strike aims at hitting Arizona economically.
Consider the Chicano Movement that culminated in the 1970s. The movement covered issues of farm workers' rights, voting political rights and discrimination to name a few. Heightened political activism fueled, and would be complemented by, an influx of Chicano art and music during the movement. This music would become a theatre of expression. I see no reason why the same cannot occur today.
Neither does Michael Nowakowski, vice mayor of Pheonix and general manager of Radio Campesina, a Spanish-language radio station. Nowakowski, whose father is Polish-American and whose mother is Mexican, tells the New York Times in a May 29 article that Latinos that are American citizens or green card holders are afraid of attending musical events for fear of racial profiling or discrimination by authorities. Despite this, Nowakowski has mixed feelings about the boycott strategy and instead sees the potential mobilizing factor that musicians could bring:
"Musicians can really have an impact if they have concerts here and talk about voter registration, like the Rock the Vote campaign on MTV, or offer half off the ticket price if you register to vote," he continued. "It's a platform you can speak from and educate people who are maybe on the edge and confused. The artists need to touch the soul and hearts of people and allow them to be proud of who they are and tell that American story."
Arizona's immigration law has ignited a storm of reactions and actions within the state and far beyond in the months after its signing. Cities from Boston and New York to Oakland and San Diego have all passed boycotts or resolutions condemning the law and vow to look into cutting contracts with the state. Others have already banned employee travel to the state using public funds. Major League Baseball even inspired Gov. Brewer to pen a column on ESPN.com when it began receiving calls to move its 2011 All Star Game originally scheduled for Phoenix.
Those measures are reminiscent of Arizona being boycotted in 1993 for refusing to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a national holiday. The National Football League moved its Super Bowl away from there while the city lost up to 130 conventions and an estimated $350 million, as estimated in the Christian Science Monitor article linked earlier in this post.
The effects from similar boycotts could potentially be greater today and could well inspire legislative change. That's not to say that artists should shy away from visiting the state's citizens, mobilizing those affected and giving a louder voice to those seeking change. Arizona is a dynamic market for Latin music and culture. I see great opportunity for this to be put to inspired use.
This post is not meant to discourage those who believe boycotting the state is in their best interests or is their best option to make a difference. Rather, it is to suggest another alternative that has proven through generations to influence and energize millions.
Follow Stephen Montemayor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/smontemayor
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I'm sure certain red neck country bands will show, they know who their fans are. You know Ted Nugent will be there as long as he can bring his assault rifles on stage and fire off a few bursts. He may even get to shoot a few animals as part of his show.
The white majority of Arizona overwhelmingly supports this law. Obviously the Arizona economy is strong and any boycott won't hurt them. Like good republicans the say that anyone who accepts unemployment is a bum anyway. The people of Arizona are proud of their bigotry. They know if they can run off the so called "Mexicans" there will be less democratic voters. Actually, their plan will probably work too.
BEAM ME UP SCOTTY
I will NEVER boycott AZ however I will BUYcott them. We should all boycott sanctuary cities like LA and SF and businessess who hire ILLEGALS. That is where our efforts should be.
EVERY boycott has folks who bluster they'll spend more somewhere, or buy more from a company...they DON'T or it's such a pawltry amount it doesn't make a dent in a National and International boycott..
Let's get back to the business of taking care of our own and the LEGAL immigrants who are here. We don't have the resources to take care of those who come here ILLEGALLY!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/cause.jpg
I'm all for the boycotts going on, and hope more states join in. People have tried to talk to these people about this papers please law and they just don't want to hear another side. Seems every-time Brewer has gone as far with a state held in a regime lock and step she takes it further.
I really feel for the good people there that know this law is against federal law and are trying to fight these fringe elements.
The so-called "Buycott" on Memorial Day drew only about 7,000 SB1070 supporters who showed up to buy stuff. The anti-1070 march got 15,000 ++ people.
http://www.keytlaw.com/blog/2010/04/anti-illegal-immigration-law-part-1/
In addition, Article IV Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution says:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion."
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. By halting work on the border fence, the Obama administration couldn't be clearer. They do NOT intend to protect CITIZENS of the United States from the literal INVASION and Drug WAR that is happening along our Southern Border.
Start calling your Representatives and DEMAND that our borders be SECURE and our CURRENT LAWS be enforced.
*Please see FAIRUS.ORG for information.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/06/border_crime.html
But lately it seems that the objection is to the idea of deporting illegal immigrants. Is that the objection? That Arizona's law might lead to the detention and deportation of illegal immigrants? Is the demand that all illegal immigrants mujst be allowed to stay here? It seems a little confusing. What's the real objection here?
The OBJECTION is they are trying to deny the birthright of indisputably American citizens.
Obviously, what the State of Arizona did is not widely regarded as being "politically correct," but they do have to deal with a lot of the atrocities that are happening to poor and desperate Mexican citizens. (I'm talking, "finding an abandoned trailer in the 120 degree desert full of dessicated human remains.")
Slavery and "involuntary servitude" did not "cease to exist" in the United States with the passage of the thirteenth amendment. Our immigration laws are not being enforced, and as a direct result of that, a ==slave== ==trade== is flourishing right in our own "homeland." Drug traffickers are also having a field-day. All of these things are undeniably happening.
So, okay ... maybe Arizona's actions are considered "reprehensible" to some ... but so, I would opine, is the total situation that they are daily faced with. Certainly, so is the slavery that desperate citizens of a proud and ancient country, Mexico, are also daily faced with.
Translation: besides boycotting one another (i.e. pretending that some citizens of OUR country are somehow, by their actions, to be branded as "Other"), what exactly should WE, The People of the United States, =be= doing about this matter? ... Together?
There is no "other." The U.S. is ... "us."
When Arpaio Joe does his round-ups and finds a drop house full of people who have been robbed, starved and otherwise abused, he doesn't release them from captivity. He handcuffs them and puts them in another form of detention.
When Arpaio Joe raids businesses and finds workers with false ID, he does not fine or arrest the employers who hired the "illegals", he arrests the workers who are paying taxes and supporting their families.
Good lordz, Sundialsvc4! May I please borrow your Rose-Colored Glasses??
Its interesting that all the crazy fringe left who doesn't think we should have any laws or security on the border is fine with American Citizens not being able to join Public Park Lands that they paid for with tax dollars because Law Enforcement and the Military can't protect them.
and i'll wager the thinking behind it is just as murky
You must have a great life if the only thing that bothers you is grammar.