S. Samuel
Hispanic rappers Pitbull, Cypress Hill and more have reportedly called off multiple Arizona concerts to protest the state's controversial immigration enforcement law.
The law makes it a misdemeanor for an illegal alien to be in Arizona without possessing legal paperwork.
The Miami rapper [Pitbull] announced that he has decided to bypass the May 31, date on his ‘Mr. Worldwide’s Carnaval,’ tour which was intended to stop at the Phoenix Celebrity Theatre. Pitbull relayed the news via Twitter, explaining to fans that it was simply a moral issue. “I am canceling my concert in Phoenix on May 31 … How is the country we enjoy and love bcuz of its human rights, freedom, opportunity and that has been built by immigrants, now start 2 deny them??…It is contradicting 2 everything the USA stands 4.” (The Boom Box)
Prior to Pit, Cypress Hill canceled their Arizona concert earlier this month.
The group says the May 21 show has been axed “in a show of resistance to the criminalization of immigrant communities and in opposition to SB1070.” “This decision was made in an effort to show support and solidarity with those, undocumented and otherwise, being directly affected by this unconstitutional ‘law.’ Cypress Hill recognizes those living in the struggle for their basic civil rights. Rise Up!” (Phoenix News Times)
Arizona rapper G-Moe shared his opinion on what the law will mean to the state recently.
“It gets complicated, but it’s not right. I think they went at it all wrong. Arizona is already a suffering state, and if the U.S. starts boycotting Arizona, it’s going to be even worse – people losing jobs due to businesses shutting down and so on. It’s the domino effect. It’s the Arizona natives that will suffer, and they have nothing to do with this new law. Immigration is a big issue for Arizona, but at the same time, it needs to be resolved, and I don’t think this law is the solution they thought it was.” (Houston Press)
The immigration law has also inspired local stations to call off scheduled concerts.
Tucson’s La Caliente 102.1 FM (KCMT) canceled its annual Tusa festival before tickets went on sale. The June 6 show was to have featured some of the biggest names in regional Mexican music, including La Arrolladora Banda el Limon, Banda MS, K-Paz de la Sierra and Julion Alvarez. The station is trying re-book the artists for its annual anniversary concert in the fall. “Some of the events that we have sponsored here or presented just over the last couple of weekends have been very light,” says La Caliente general sales manager Tara Hungate. “We didn’t want to take the risk of having it not work out for our [sponsors]. Would we able to sell tickets between now and the beginning of June? I don’t know.” (Billboard)
Arizona’s new immigration enforcement law is set to take effect in late July 2010.
