Amnesty International’s Hip Hop For Human Rights
by Ric Delgado with Leah Cross
“[W]e’re going to close Guantanamo. And we’re going to restore habeas corpus. … We’re going to lead by example - by not just word but by deed. That’s our vision for the future.”
“I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that.”
- President-Elect Barack Obama
One of the promises of Change made by incoming President Barack Obama was the closing of Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp (GITMO), one of the worst violations of Human Rights in the history of the United States. Similar to the outrageous concentration camps imposed on Japanese-Americans during World War II 1 (which have been conveniently called ‘internment camps’ in revisionist history), GITMO is nothing more than an Arabic and Middle Eastern concentration camp just south of Miami.
President-Elect Obama has promised that within his administration’s first 100 days he will shut down this center of torture, and reestablish the rights granted to the American public by the 5th Amendment (which are currently violated by Guantanamo Bay) - which is a right to a fair trial.
GITMO is just one of many examples of how this past Presidential Administration has WAY overstepped the boundaries set on government as established by the Constitution. Do not treat this document as if it were just a piece of paper, this has to deal with your rights and freedoms! The destruction of the 5th Amendment means that the government can now knock down your door and drag you off to a far away prison, never being tried in a court of law (which is exactly what has happened to the detainees).
In order to push along the process, and also to insure that the newly elected President doesn’t forget his obligations, Amnesty International has begun a petition drive as part of their Counter Terror With Justice campaign.
But that isn’t enough! Meet Leah Cross of Amnesty International. Leah, along with her husband, Hip-Hop Artist La Guardia, has organized Hip-Hop For Human Rights. HHFHR, essentially, is filling a void between socially minded Hip-Hop Artists and a social justice organization like Amnesty International.
Also, Miami is becoming a larger priority for several organizations as they are recognizing that Miami can act as a facilitator between the United States and Latin and Central America.
HHFHR (which takes place at PS14 - 28 NE 14th Street, January 10, 2009) features the following local Miami Hip-Hop acts: !MAYDAY!, ArtOfficial, Heartbreakerz Crew, LMS, EPHNIKO, La Guardia, DJ Utopia, DJane, LOX, Brimstone127 & The Brass King, and DJ Tony Muhammad- There will also be body painting and art displays by Arte Del Barrio.
All the artists have their own unique parts to bring to the show, either with a distinct Miami feel or a high level of social consciousness.
!MAYDAY!
For a quick run down of the lineup:
- !MAYDAY! brings The Root-ish type feel to their music, having a live band with an emcee. If anyone hasn’t been to their night at Jazid on South Beach, then you really don’t know what you’re missing. This band can easily be described as “refreshing”, their music steps out from the typical mold of Hip-Hop and creates something amazing.
- ArtOfficial is another group that plays their own unique form of music with a jazz feel to it.
- LOX is nothing but inspiring, redefining the typical “boom-bap” feel of Hip-Hop music.
- Brimstone127 & The Brass King has made a commitment to that 80’s feel of Hip-Hop that gives breakers something to dance to.
- La Guardia pulls inspiration from just about any form of music, yet another unique Hip-Hop sound.
- EPHNIKO is a Spanish rapper, bringing forwarded his Miami roots by repping the three-oh-five (which apparently a lot of other Spanish rappers aren’t so fond of).
- LMS is a bold statement within the Hip-Hop community, again, yet another artist involved in the show that isn’t willing to settle with the traditional rules set by a particular genre.
- Rounding it all out is Heartbreakerz Crew, an all female group - and you know when there is an all female group within a male dominated industry, they’re gonna have the skills to back themselves up.
The groups also were picked for specific ethical reasons. The bands rarely use foul language, they don’t objectify women, and some emcee’s, like Brimstone127, are specifically socially conscious which is reflected in their lyrics. These are not the typical rappers talking about their bitches and bling, these are true artists and musicians with meaning behind their rhymes.
More than anything, Amnesty, Leah, and LaGuardia hope that the social consciousness level of the Miami Hip-Hop scene is raised a notch or two thanks to their event.
Petitions to be sent to the White House regarding the closing of Guantanamo will be available for signature at the show, but for anyone not able to make it, please follow this link to sign a petition online.
For those interested in more events associated with Amnesty International, they have regular monthly meetings every second Wednesday of the month at Books & Books in Coral Gables (265 Aragon Avenue) at 8pm.
There will also be a petition drive on January 11, 2009, on Lincoln Road Mall at 11am (organized by Miami for Peace). The event marks the 7th Anniversary of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center and Amnesty International is really pushing for it to be it’s last. The group will be handing out postcards that can be mailed to the White House as petitions to close down GITMO.
For those not able to attend, you can download the postcard here:
This event began from a very small group of people wanting to make a difference and that sentiment needs to spread like wildfire. With all that’s been happening in recent years, the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans have yet to DO anything needs to change. Follow their example and help change the world around you. Do not let the people in power run our country into the ground unchecked. They will react but only if action is taken.
LINKS:
Hip Hop For Human Rights: www.myspace.com/hhfhr
Amnesty International: www.amnestyusa.org
MAYDAY: www.myspace.com/firstdayofmay
ArtOfficial: www.myspace.com/weareartofficial
La Guardia: www.myspace.com/laguardiamusic
LMS: www.myspace.com/iamlms
LOX: www.myspace.com/loxakarippa
DJane: www.myspace.com/djane305
EPHNIKO: www.myspace.com/ephniko
Brimstone127 & The Brass King: www.myspace.com/brimstone127online
Arte Del Barrio: www.artedelbarrio.com
Miami for Peace: www.miamiforpeace.net
This event was amazing! It exceeded our expectations four-fold!!!! Over 600 of you participated, signed petitions, and donated to Amnesty International. Thank you to all of you for such an amazing turn-out. We will keep you posted for pictures and video of the event!