The introduction in May of a racist law targetting immigrants in the US state of Arizona has sparked a powerful movement from wide ΒιΆΉΣ³» of US society. It has also sparked the biggest movement of musicians in the US since the times of South African apartheid, with a growing number of artists refusing to play in Arizona in protest.
The musicians are organised through Sound Strike, an organisation initiated in May by Rage Against the Machine (RATM) lead singer Zach de la Rocha and film-maker Michael Moore.
Sound Strike
In Fremont, Nebraska in the US mid-west, some of the biggest names in indie rock played a sold-out pro-immigrant benefit gig on July 31 titled βConcert for Equalityβ.
Omaha.com said on August 2: βThe theme of the day β and the reason for the show β was to fight Fremontβs recently passed immigration ordinance, which would fine employers and landlords who hire or rent to illegal immigrants.β
All proceeds from the gig were offered to the American Liberties Civil Union to assist its fight against the law, Pollstar.com said on August 4.