18 replies to this topic

[negicore]

Fucked Up will still come, but lets see the rash of canceled tour stops in AZ due to SB 1070...Trust me they are coming...

http://www.punknews.org/article/38100

[donald]

hehehe


already been posted dude

[negicore]

Yes that link was posted in that long ass forum on SB 1070, but what I am saying is that the cancelations are starting to trickle in...

[Rial]

as long as leatherface is still coming, nothing else matters...


but really who has cancelled so far? Bunch a pussy illegals?

[negicore]

At least one shit band that I am sure people on here like. I can't say yet. And seeing as how Leatherface are sensable, they'll be here....

[Rial]

this might bode well in your not working shitty shows favor.
But it will be interesting to see who boycotts and who doesn't.

I am thinking maybe Los Lobos will stay away...but really, artists have to come here to fight the power, not sit in your emerald "legal gay marriage, legal medicinal pot, non racial profiling, human rights respecting, social working, environmentally friendly " palaces and snicker

[MikeyWretch]

HAHAHAH Like bands liked coming here at all anyways!

Its a nice stop before California and yeah! Pffft. I say if bands do this then they can eat a bag of dicks! Arizona has always been fucked! Its just more fucked now.

[TPStank]

How much longer do you think the arts and music culture have to live out here?

[negicore]

but really, artists have to come here to fight the power, not sit in your emerald "legal gay marriage, legal medicinal pot, non racial profiling, human rights respecting, social working, environmentally friendly " palaces and snicker

Agreed 100%!

[mancopter]

Bumping this to relay the contents of Stinkweeds' most recent newsletter:

Hey everyone, I have never used this avenue to get the word out about a social/political issue before, but I wanted to share an Op-Ed piece written by Charlie Levy at Stateside Presents regarding all of the misinformed bands that are boycotting us here in Arizona due to SB1070.

An Open Letter to All Artists Boycotting Arizona:
As a political activist and 15-year independent concert promoter in Arizona, I feel a deep obligation to speak out about the real world effects of artists boycotting the state in protest of SB 1070, the recent anti-immigration bill passed by the legislature and signed into law by our (unelected) Governor. While I respect the intentions of the artists protesting what they find to be an unjust law, the practical effect of the boycott is resulting in exactly the opposite of their good-willed intentions.

By not performing in Arizona, artists are harming the very people and places that foster free speech and the open exchange of ideas that serve to counter the closed-mindedness recently displayed by the new law. The people who will feel the negative effects of the boycott the deepest are local concert venues, including non-profit art house theatres, independent promoters, motivated fans, and the hundreds of people employed in the local music business. If the boycott continues, it is all but guaranteed that some of these venues will be forced to close their doors.

Think of it this way: What if otherwise outspoken and inspirational activists like Martin Luther King, Jr. had turned their backs on the State of Alabama and its citizens because they didn’t agree with the discriminatory practices of its government during the critical years of the civil rights movement? What would have happened if they had chosen to boycott Alabama rather than speak out, organize, and effect change?

We are faced with a similar situation in Arizona today. The legislators currently in office don’t care if outspoken artists boycott the state. The people responsible for SB 1070 don't want you here. They don't want your voices heard. And as a result of the boycott, they are the only ones who benefit. In effect, the decision to boycott is playing right into their hands.

As Curtis McCrary, the general manager of the non-profit Rialto Theatre in Tucson recently stated, “The individuals and organizations behind this bill are...more than likely delighted about the prospect of politically vocal artists canceling shows – silencing themselves rather than using the platform their status as artists gives them to speak out against SB 1070.”

The truth is, a boycott is an easy gesture that doesn’t require much more than a statement and removing a date from your tour schedule. However, if you truly care about the effects of the controversial immigration law that was passed, this is an opportunity to use your unique position as an artist with the ability to reach thousands of people to inspire, educate, and motivate your fans to actively be a part of the change.

I have felt and seen the effects of what artists can do to change peoples' lives individually and as a whole. In this important midterm election year, it is imperative that the voters are organized and prepared to express their views about the recent law at the voting booths in November. Every concert venue and promoter in the state would be happy to help coordinate voter registration drives and set up information booths in connection with concerts. Many of us are already planning specific events, including rallies and benefit concerts, designed to educate and encourage local music lovers to get involved at this crucial time.

This open letter is a call out to all artists to come take a stand and perform in Arizona. We need you now more than ever.



If you are interested in exploring ways to help us, including voter outreach and organizing with local non-profits, or you just want more information, please feel free to contact me at charlie@statesidepresents.com.

Charlie Levy
Stateside Presents

[chadk]

awesome

[Jacki O.]

so true!

the government will only care when they lose money, they're not losing money when Stars or punk bands skip a tour stop in arizona.

i think if you're going to boycott az, do it proactively, boycott business in the districts that these politicians came from. boycott the businesses that support them financially.

the MLKjr analogy is quite brilliant!

[jeremx]

the MLKjr analogy is quite brilliant!

agreed.

[donald]

the MLKjr analogy is quite brilliant!

agreed.

I actually don't agree with the MLK analogy, although I agree with the intent it's a bit different than what MLKjr was doing.

MLKjr was pushing things forward and pulling them OUT of racial discrimination something that had been set in stone from the beginning of the slavery.
There was no way in HELL MLK could ask to boycott anything, if he said boycott stores ran by white people, it wouldn't matter because black people didn't go to white run stores.

We are in a different situation where we are going into reverse, and instead of pulling us out of something that has been going on for decades, we are going from non-discrimination into discrimination. We are setting a precedent on a few levels. We have seen the state say it is going to take over a federal responsibility. We have seen active discrimination against hispanic's with not only sb1070 but a few other bills. I view this to be similar, but at the same time very different than the Civil Rights Movement.

I agree with Charlies intent, but I disagree with the analogy.

Do I think boycotting is the way to do things? No I don't, because I do believe it hurts the wrong people.

[Jacki O.]

boycotting things was a big part of the civil rights movement in the 50s and 60s!

in 1956 after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person, civil rights leaders in Montgomery launcheda boycott of city buses, which MLKjr was a big supporter of.

But the boycotts were specific. they were targeted at businesses and institutions, not at other black citizens or people fighting with the civil rights movements.

The civil rights movements were born in the belly of the beast in the south. They had to do sit-ins, protests, marches, and boycotts in the places that were the most hostile towards them in order to be effective.

turning your back on places where injustices happen, doesn't make them go away and the civil rights movement's concentration on the exact areas where they were not wanted proved to be highly effective.