Since the Arizona’s controversial immigration law was announced, many artists and bands have signed on Zack de la Rocha’s The Sound Strike to boycott the state, as Helen and Iman have already talked about in several posts
The list includes Shakira, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, Sonic Youth, Massive Attack, Ry Cooder, Nine Inch Nails, Rise Against, Flogging Molly, Megadeth, Anthrax , Maroon 5, Gogol Bordello, My Morning Jacket, Ben Harper, Pitbull, Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Anti-Flag, Throwing Muses, State Radio, Aztlan Underground, DJ Spooky, Cypress Hill, Juanes, Conor Oberst, Los Tigres del Norte, Los Lobos, Cafe Tacuba, and many others.
Charlie Levy, the owner of Stateside Presents, an independent concert-promotion company based in Phoenix that produces over 200 events a year throughout Arizona and New Mexico, addressed the musicians in an open letter, asking them to use their performances to speak out against the law rather than boycott the state, justifying himself by saying that the boycott was harming local concert venues, non-profit art-house theatres, independent promoters, fans and the people employed in the local music business.
Friday, Conor Oberst, Iman’s favorite, wrote an open letter to Charlie Levy:
‘Dear Charlie,
I read your letter and I do understand where you are coming from. You bring up valid points. I personally regret any of the collateral damage the boycott is causing you, other like-minded arts promoters and the fans in Arizona. A boycott is, inherently, a blunt instrument. It is an imperfect weapon, a carpet bomb, when all involved would prefer a surgical strike. I agree with you in part, and the radio host you quoted, that the authors and supporters of SB1070 could give a shit whether or not my band, or any other Artist, ever plays Arizona again.’
So if they don’t care about you or the artists, who signed on the strike, ever play in Arizona again, how are you hurting them?
‘The only thing, clearly, that these people care about is Money and Power, that and the creation and preservation of an Anglo-Centric Police State where every Immigrant and Non-White citizen is considered subhuman. They want them stripped of their basic human rights and reduced to slaves for Corporate America and the White Race. They are engaged in blatant class warfare. It is evil, pure and simple.
I have on many occasions spoken my mind from stage. I have offered organizations table space by the merch booth. I have donated a dollar-a-ticket, or the entire guarantee, to different causes. I have registered voters. I have played on behalf of political candidates. Sadly, this time, I fear none of that is enough. If I return to Arizona to pay lip service to a roomful of kids at the Marquee it will do absolutely no good for anyone. What I can do is to help organize, and play my small part in, what I hope is the largest and most effective boycott this country has seen in a long time.’
Conor, your heart is in the right place, sure it’s an evil racist law, but you are preaching to the choir, sorry but your fans are very probably very much against these kinds of law too.
‘To work it will have to involve members from all sectors of society. The Sports Industry, the Entertainment Industry, the Tourism and Convention Industry, other State and City governments, private businesses and individuals from around the country and the world—all of whom, by the way, are already participating in the boycott. Much of the Artist end of the boycott is symbolic, I acknowledge, and no real threat to the economics of the State. But it is an important part none-the-less for awareness and messaging. The Boycott has to be so widespread and devastating that the Arizona State Legislature and Governor have no choice but to repeal their unconstitutional, immoral and hateful law. It has to hurt them in the only place they feel any pain, their pocketbooks.’
And that’s the problem, do you really think big corporations are going to participate to the boycott? I know that certain cities, like Los Angeles among others, are participating by not conducting business with Arizona, but will the entertainment industry stop opening its movies in Arizona? Do you think tourists will stop visiting the Grand Canyon? And the sports industry? I seriously doubt anything will happen in this area. As you said the boycott is symbolic, not really effective.
I am really torn on this one, I know it could be effective if everyone was participating but it will never happen. And I have checked, big money maker names like Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Green day, Tom Petty are all going to Arizona this summer.
If you want to read the full letter, you can go there: