Artists Protest Police Attack on Concert
December 6, 1999

In August 1999, the largest national organization of police officers, the Fraternal Order of Police, has called for a nationwide police boycott of all businesses and individuals, especially artists, who oppose the execution of Abu-Jamal.

One month ago they announced plans to hold protests and to boycott concerts by Sting and Rage Against the Machine because these artists have at different times expressed opposition to the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

They ended up not staging protests at Sting's concerts, but the FOP continues to threaten Rage Against the Machine's concerts, even statingthat they would "boycott" the sponsors of of NBC if Conan O'Brien allowed Rage to appear on his talk show.

Rage performed as scheduled on November 11 on Conan.

The FOP has also encouraged cops to refuse to do security at concerts in an attempt to close down the shows. Rage has continued to stand firm and the shows have all gone on.

STATEMENT:

"We artists condemn the police attacks on musicians for their political beliefs. The boycott of artists and businesses called by the Fraternal Order of Police is no ordinary political boycott.

The police are government employees who are in a position of power over people, and their boycott is a direct form of police intimidation and censorship of the arts.

"This national political campaign by police to execute Mumia Abu-Jamal is unprecedented and very dangerous.

With this latest move, the police are basically saying that artists are not allowed to play concerts in the US if they have ever opposed the execution of this journalist and political dissident.

And they are threatening concert halls and other venues against holding such cultural events. This kind of censorship will not be tolerated."

(Signatures on this statement are still being gathered) Signed by
Edward Asner, actor
Boots from The Coup, hip hop artist
Chumbawamba, band
Ossie Davis, actor
Frances Goldin, literary agent
Danny Hoch, actor
Keith Antar Mason, playwright
$Money Mark, musician
Richard Montoya, Culture Clash, actor
David Lester, film producer
Ozomatli, band
Dread Scott, visual artist
David Zeiger, filmmaker

Statement organized by
the Artists Network of Refuse & Resist!