In a new letter, Conor Oberst addresses some of the arguments that have been presented against a boycott of Arizona due to their controversial immigration law. Oberst specifically addresses promoter Charlie Levy, the owner of Stateside Presents, who asked musicians reconsider the boycott and to use Arizona performances to register opposition to the law.
Conor had this to say:
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. 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.
Just this past week, the little town of Fremont Nebraska passed a very similar, almost more radical, city ordinance. It was co-authored and championed by Kris Kobach of Kansas who helped write SB1070. I was outraged, saddened and embarrassed for their town and my state. I am already in the process of organizing a fund-raiser for the NE chapter of the ACLU who is suing the town of Fremont. Our situation requires immediate legal action and a campaign for public awareness (there has been very little press on this). Charlie, I promise you, if this Fremont law had been passed Statewide instead of in a rural town of 25,000 people, I would be the first to call for a boycott of my home state. This way of thinking and legislating is so dangerous, and such a threat to our basic ideals as Americans and Humans, that we cannot stand by and do nothing. We cannot play on as if nothing is wrong. This is not just about Arizona. I am not just skipping a tour date. This is not going to be easy for anyone.
The Saddle Creek Records co-founder and long-time musician is among the many artists who have joined the Sound Strike campaign. Other participants include Anti-Flag, Billy Bragg, Gogol Bordello, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, Rise Against and Sonic Youth.
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The first official trailer has been posted for Beijing Punk, a new documentary by filmmaker Shaun Jefford. Jefford toured China and met a number of fiercely (and legally) underground Chinese punk and hardcore acts including Misandao, Demerit, Hedgehog, The Gar, PK14, Candy Monster and Joyside.. As the trailer notes, the entire movement is forbidden by the communist government which has banned rock from television and most live performances since the 1990s. 
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