Political Irony

A huge contingent of 60s counter-cultural musicians turned out on Feb. 8th in San Francisco for “Sweet Relief Presents: An Evening to Honor Joan Baez at the Masonic“. Tom Morello, from Rage Against the Machine, captured the mood of joyful resistance, saying, “Welcome to the last big event before they drag us all off to jail.”

Musicians playing at the sold-out event besides Morello and Baez included Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Ron Artis II, Joe Henry, Margo Price, Jason Crosby, Jackson Browne, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Rosanne Cash and Taj Mahal.

Also attending was Justin Jones, the black Tennessee state representative who was expelled (and then reinstated) for speaking out. He said to the crowd “We must make a noise when our immigrant brothers and sisters are terrorized by deputized white supremacists who call themselves ICE.” He also quoted lyrics from the song “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round”, which Baez sang circa 1975.

Baez wrapped up the event by saying “Tonight, we’ll celebrate our strengths here in this hall. Music, joy and laughter have suddenly become acts of resistance. Remember this night, and tomorrow, go out and find one thing, just one thing, whatever calls your spirit, your conscience and your lifestyle — whether it’s defending your local library, defending your Latino gardener standing on the busy street corner, alone if necessary, wearing a T-shirt which says, ‘We are all illegal immigrants on stolen land.'”

I’m old enough to remember the 60s and 70s, and the role that musicians played in turning our country around. I even had a show on a radio station back then where I played their music. If we ever needed to be turned around again, it is now.