Tom Morello, the guitarist for rock band Rage Against the Machine, joined student protesters at the Cal State Northridge demonstration for Palestine, coincidentally where the band performed its first public show at the university in 1991.
Morello, both guitarist and activist, shared a post on Instagram where he can be seen posing for a photo with the students, fists held up high and wrapped around his guitar.
MAY DAY 2024. Rocking Palestine protest at Cal State Northridge today, site of RATM’s 1st ever show. pic.twitter.com/imi6rGCaOn
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) May 2, 2024
"HAPPY MAY DAY 2024,"
"Day 1: Cal State Northridge Palestine protest. RATM's 1st show ever was here in 1991, and it was an honor to play for the students today in the name of justice, human rights, peace, and liberation for all."
Morello posted his show of solidarity on X with the same photograph.
"MAY DAY 2024. Rocking Palestine protest at Cal State Northridge today, site of RATM's 1st ever show."
The artist has always fused music and political activism through the band's successful career. Several of the band's songs address issues facing us today.
When asked by the Los Angeles Times why activism in music matters, he simply said,
"Dangerous times demand dangerous songs," and 'there has never been a successful social movement in this country that has not had a great soundtrack.
Morello has also repeatedly raised the alarm about the spike in anti-Semitism in the United States since October 7, doubling down when he tweeted,
"Important to remember the horrific war crimes in Gaza aren't being done by "the Jews" but rather by a particular murderous right-wing Israeli administration."
"Many brave Jews in Israel & abroad condemn the slaughter. Our fight is against oppression. No room for antisemitism," he wrote.
Protests have emerged on college campuses nationwide as students pressure universities to divest from Israeli businesses and for the federal government to cease its support for Israel's military actions amid the barrage in the Gaza Strip.
