It is no secret that Rage Against the Machine has been vocal on a variety of political and social issues since they started playing in the early '90s.
Earlier this week, guitarist Tom Morello hosted a fundraiser for The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), and now frontman Zack de la Rocha has teamed up with clothing company Born X Raised to raise money for the same charity.
All proceeds from the shirts and hoodies will benefit CHIRLA, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that offers legal services to immigrant workers, immigrant students and those facing deportation. The clothing can be purchased for a limited time via bornxraised.com.
Publicly taking a stance against U.S. President Donald Trump's illegal immigration raids, de la Rocha — who largely remains out of the spotlight — also commented:
“THIS IS LOS ANGELES. IN LA WE FIGHT ALONGSIDE OUR UNDOCUMENTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
IT’S LIKE THE OLD SCHOOL USED TO SAY “CON SAFOS” — IT’S JUST THE NATURE OF THINGS HERE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
BECAUSE HERE WE FORM A COMMUNITY THAT TRANSCENDS BORDERS.
HERE WE REJECT THE IDEA THAT ANYONE IS ILLEGAL.
WE ARE A DIGNIFIED CITY OF MILLIONS OF INTERNATIONAL WORKERS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE,
AND TOGETHER WE ARE DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY TO DEFEND OUR MOTHERS, OUR FATHERS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR CHILDREN FROM ICE AND THEIR RACIST AND ARMED VIGILANTES NOW INVADING OUR COMMUNITIES.
IT’S PARA LOS NIÑOS THAT WE ORGANIZE TO FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO STAND ON THE SIDELINES, AND CONSIDER YOURSELF SAFE, BELIEVE US WHEN WE SAY THAT YOU’RE NOT. FASCISM IS LAWLESS. ITS AGENTS WEAPONIZE WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE THE LAW AND WILL ONLY APPLY IT TO THOSE THAT THEY TARGET, WHILE THEY ILLEGALLY DETAIN, HARASS, TERRORIZE, AND DISAPPEAR THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES WITH TOTAL IMPUNITY.
AS WE SPEAK THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN WHAT IS PROTEST AND WHAT IS “TERRORISM”, BETWEEN WHO IS AN INNOCENT WORKER AND WHO IS A “VIOLENT CRIMINAL”.
THIS COULD SOON BE THE NORM WHETHER YOU’RE A CITIZEN OR NOT. TO STAND WITH US IS TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES.
BORN AND RAISED IN MEXICO.
BLACK AND BROWN NO BACKING US DOWN.
SOLO EL PUEBLO SALVA AL PUEBLO.
IN PEACE FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.”
The heavily-scrutinized immigration raids have drawn numerous protests around the country, with Trump illegally deploying the National Guard and U.S. Marines to quell dissent.
Several artists; like Doechii and Olivia Rodrigo, among others; have spoken out against the military response, and Billie Eilish's brother Finneas said he was tear-gassed during the protest in LA.
Below are promotional photos of clothing adorned by de la Rocha and shot by Atiba Jefferson, the same photographer behind Turnstile's Never Enough visuals.
What do you think?
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