Dane is currently being held at the federal Corrections Corporation of America facility in Florence, AZ, a private prison where most of his fellow inmates are being held on immigration related “offenses”. As Dane’s supporters and friends, we extend solidarity to all those who face state repression, those in prison due to G20 protest charges, and those incarcerated for crossing nation-state boundaries. Dane has an extradition hearing set for April 16th, 2013.
April 16th has passed- Dane is still being held denied bail and perhaps still in lockdown as this BlogSpot indicates with its last update from May 12th. Rocknyc reached out to the band in hopes of assisting them drum up funds and publicity for Danes cause but our offer was very politely declined. My thought? There is more to this than meets the eye.
Ramshackle Glory is described as “anarcho-punk”. I find this somewhat interesting (but really not that much) I think the kids have forgotten what Anarchy is, either that or it’s become as watered down and blasphemed as the label ‘punk’. Anarchists fight. Anarchists make noise. Although, the dictionary defines it as holding ‘the state undesirable, harmful and unnecessary’, when you claim yourself as such you need to be willing to defend your beliefs til the bloody end. Otherwise, you’re nothing but a complainer. If you rally people to fight the system, you really should be there fist waving, not hiding. Fear repercussion? Then don’t start debate. You can’t fight for a cause in silence- you can’t.
Maybe punk rock now only means being non traditional and underground with venues and recordings? Maybe anarcho just means saying you don’t like stuff. Could be, times change.
I greatly appreciate Ramshackles response to me and it did, in fact, change my perspective. I am concerned for Dane Rossman and the injustice he faces but I am more concerned that those who support him, have no idea how to support someone. He’s in a cell, your touring and doing what you do. Should he not be represented? Is he not part of you? If my brother was in that situation Id be sporting a FREE MY BRO t-shirt and barking out a bullhorn, and I don’t even claim to be an anarchist or revolutionary or a punk. Just someone who knows that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and that lawyers can only do so much.
We at rocknyc have taken on injustice to musicians in every form. In the case of Elliott Smiths murder we have never stopped, never faltered and continue to work through every channel (even the quite bizarre) in our search for justice for no reason other than justice itself. Dane Rossman may very well deserve to be incarcerated, there are few details and apparently much is under wrap. I am not suggesting this to be a publicity stunt because the band does not want much media attention and I will respect that by not delving deeper. But, there is more to this than publicly known and it sure looks ‘punk rock’ when your bassist is a political prisoner, don’t it?
Support the kid it’s the right thing to do. http://supportdanerossman.
I will be at their Worcester MA show July 9th- I’ll keep you posted.