Several prominent musicians and bands are coming together to offer up their voices in protest over Arizona’s new anti-immigration law.
Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, and Mexican band Mana are part of an effort to record songs in support of Latino immigrants.
Nelson, who joined others on a track titled “Si Se Puede” or “Yes We Can” said of the effort, “These folks are coming to us the way immigrants have always come to us. We really need to welcome these people.”
The recording, which is scheduled to be released on July 4, was produced by Alberto Kreimerman, president of Fundacion Hermes Music. He said the song was written several years ago and was not intended to be a direct response to Arizona’s law, but rather “to raise consciousness and empathy for immigrants in general.”
“We think it’s a problem of awareness,” Kreimerman said. “It’s not a problem of law.”
Joining Nelson and Santana are musical groups Ramon Ayala, Los Lonely Boys and Mana. Proceeds from the sale of “Si Se Puede” will benefit Fundacion Hermes and the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Besides the release, other talent including Shakira and Juanes, Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine, Los Tigres del Norte, Sonic Youth, Kanye West and Ozomatli have all called for a boycott of Arizona to protest SB1070.
Bilingual hip-hop artist Mexia recorded a song called “Todos Somos Arizona (We Are All Arizona) in which he takes the issue full on. His lyrics proclaim, “we’re Latinos on the rise like blood pressure, yeah, trying to control us with fear. We clean your home, cook your food while you sit on your [throne] without a clue.”
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