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Rage against the Machine’s Zach de la Rocha Kicks off Arpaio Actions: ‘We’ve Already Won’

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Rage against the Machine Singer De la RochaAs reported in the Phoenix New Times, former lead singer of Rage Against the Machine, Zach de la Rocha , joined a rally yesterday in advance of today’s protest against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio:

The terror campaign that Mr. Arpaio is waging here in Arizona is keeping people in the shadows. They want to speak out.

Just what are they speaking out about? Arpaio’s atrocious law enforcement tactics, though his “forced immigrant march” two weeks ago tops the list. In broad daylight he rounded up and paraded all of the undocumented immigrants in his jail in a chain-gang to a segregated ‘Tent City’ surrounded by electrified fences in the Arizona desert.

So tomorrow, no matter what. No matter what happens, no matter what they throw at us, we know that by speaking out, by addressing the wounds, by confronting the indignity that they’re trying to impose upon us, that we have already won…

The politically engaged rocker showed up in Phoenix to march alongside hundreds of community members, community leaders, outraged citizens, and families. The event, entitled, ‘March to Stop the Hate,’ began at 9 a.m. today, and will include a performance by De la Rocha.

According to Arizona Central News, the musician urged people to participate with these impassioned words:

To witness what is happening in Arizona and remain neutral is to be implicated in human rights violations that are occurring right here on U.S. soil against migrants. History will not be kind to Joe Arpaio. He will be remembered with other infamous sheriffs like Bull Connor who subjugated and terrorized communities for shortsighted political gain. I hope everyone will join me in protesting Sheriff Joe.

We couldn’t agree more. 

If you are infuriated about what Joe Arpaio is doing in Arizona, visit www.SheriffJoeMustGo.com and sign the petition to bring Joe to Justice. Organizations as diverse as United Farm Workers, Democracia USA, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network have joined forces to see that 10,000 signatures are delivered to the U.S. Justice Department on March 11th.

Watch the latest video about Joe, sign the petition, and forward it to your friends and family today!