Morello, Outernational protest Arizona law with free song
Outernational
Former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello joins the politically charged New York rock group Outernational on a new recording of Woody Guthrie’s immigration ballad “Deportees” in response to Arizona’s recent law targeting illegal immigrants.
“We recorded ‘Deportees’ with Tom Morello … to stand with all the people courageously fighting back against these unjust and immoral laws,” Outernational’s Miles Solay said. “Outernational is about a whole new world, a world without borders and nations. Todos somos illegales. We are all illegals.”
Morello, long known for his own politically provocative music with
Tom Morello
Rage, the Nightwatchman and Street Sweeper Social Club, said “Prejudice and ignorance are at the core of Arizona’s recent immigration legislation and Woody Guthrie’s ‘Deportees’ was written to combat just that sort of prejudice.”
A 1948 plane crash near Los Gatos Canyon in Central California that killed 28 Mexican migrant workers and four Americans inspired Guthrie to write the song. The report of the crash in the New York Times listed the names of the three flight crew members and a security guard, but referred to the Mexican workers only as “deportees.” The song was originally popularized by Guthrie’s friend Pete Seeger and subsequently covered by numerous artists including Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Guthrie’s son Arlo, Bruce Springsteen, the Kingston Trio, Los Super Seven, Dolly Parton and the Byrds.
30 Days Out 
June 10, 2010 at 8:58 am
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.
June 10, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Whoa! This version of Deportees is great! One of Woody’s best, no question.
June 11, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Great old time feel to this song
Nice post
Rhod