The Sound Strike: Massive Attack, Cypress Hill, & Zack de la Rocha boycott Arizona

Arizona… You brought down the thunder.

When Zack de la Rocha, Massive Attack, and Cypress Hill call for a boycott and the President of the United States doesn’t condemn the action, you’re in for trouble.

If you’re not across US politics right now, Arizona’s state legislature and Governor Jan Brewer have recently signed bill SB 1070, which amongst many other provisions, “requires a reasonable attempt to be made to determine the immigration status of a person… if reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the U.S.”.

i.e., anyone can be stopped on the streets and forced to prove their citizenship on greater further basis than “reasonable suspicion” formed from completely predisposed stereotypes… and if not carrying the appropriate papers at that very moment (a driver’s license won’t suffice, and who carries their passport or birth-certificate on them!?), they can be immediately arrested without a warrant.

In Zack’s words this “legalises and sanctions racial profiling. Straight up.”

Understandably there has been an incredible backlash against SB1070 (which goes far beyond U.S. Federal Law) across the US and around the world. The Sound Strike, a group of musicians who are boycotting Arizona, are joining dozens of other groups boycotting the state and denouncing the new law.

The Sound Strike is calling for other musicians to join the movement and stand up for what they believe in… what we ALL need to believe in: basic human rights. Artists already involved include Cypress Hill, Conor Oberst, Massive Attack, Sonic Youth, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, Rise Against… the list goes on.

Nationwide, bands have cancelled Arizona tour dates, sports teams have pulled out of Arizona matches, companies have pulled out of or relocated conferences in Arizona, university exchange programs have been canceled, and the entire cities of L.A., Boston, Austin, San Fran, and Seattle have approved boycotts of the state (read the full list of organisations and cities here). In other words, this is huge.

For the cynics, you’re right: it will take more than an online petition (though you should still sign it). It will take more than a protest song. These are tools that inspire us to stand up for what’s important. And what’s more inspirational than the idea of “Power to The People”!?

So whilst we’re knackering on about influential and inspiring artists who never shy away real-world issues… Massive Attack have a new short film from their Heligoland album series. The film for the track Psyche was directed by John Downer. Other short films from Heligoland include Paradise Circus (Toby Dye) and Flat of the Blade (Ewan Spencer).

Click past the fold to watch Psyche (it’ll take a few moments to load).

“In my interpretation of Psyche I have taken the idea of metamorphosis as the theme – a literal metamorphosis as insects change into their adult form and a metaphorical metamorphosis as a girl becomes a woman and breaks free of her past.” – John Downer

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