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<h1><b>The Struggle of Rebel
Diaz</b></h1><font size=3>
<a href="http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/18011" eudora="autourl">
http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/18011<br><br>
</a>June 27, 2008 By <b>Alexander Billet</b> <br><br>
</font><font face="Verdana" size=3>We live in a society that makes
scapegoats of people: immigrants, women, people of color, gays and
lesbians or anyone else who can be conveniently labeled "the
other." We also live in a society where anyone who questions such
labels, from activists to artists, is a target. If you happen to be a
combination of these things--artists of color who also stand up for the
rights of immigrants--well, let's just say the world isn't exactly your
oyster.<br>
<br>
Bronx based rap group Rebel Diaz know this well. They are the kind of
musicians who use the confrontation of rap as a springboard for their
militant politics. The masthead on their
</font><a href="http://www.rebeldiaz.com/">
<font face="Verdana" size=3 color="#800080">website</a></font>
<font face="Verdana" size=3> reads "if hip-hop organized the whole
world would be in trouble." <br>
<br>
Their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dr05tXktSo">single</a>
"Which Side Are You On?" rattles off a litany of figures and
causes they side with from unions to deported immigration activist Elvira
Arellano to the people's movement in Oaxaca, Mexico to the very idea of
socialist revolution. <br>
<br>
Rebel Diaz are by no means naive. Two of the group's three MCs are sons
of Chilean activists who fled after the CIA-backed coup of Augusto
Pinochet in 1973. Like all good revolutionaries, however, they realize
that no real change comes without risk. <br>
<br>
That risk became reality last week when it was reported that on June
18th, two of the group's MCs were arrested by the NYPD after intervening
in a case of clear police harassment. According to hip-hop activist
<a href="http://www.daveyd.com/">Davey D</a>, Rodstarz and G1 witnessed
police aggressively questioning an immigrant street vendor. <br>
<br>
After noticing the police were becoming abusive they began to tape the
incident on one of their cell phones. Upon asking for badge numbers, the
cops turned on the two MCs, hitting them with billy clubs, handcuffing
and arresting them. <br>
<br>
This is a story familiar to anyone living in a community that is coming
under the thumb of gentrification and racist police authoritarianism.
Nobody in these communities needs to be told who the cops are really
there to "serve and protect." But there is another layer to
this heinous incident. As D points out:<br><br>
"The backdrop to this story is that Rebel Diaz are not your ordinary
rappers. They are well known activist [sic] who not only speak out
against police terrorism, but have been key in helping out folks within
this immigrant community... Many feel that the assault by these cowardly
Bronx police officers in plain view of everyone was a way to send a
strong message to folks in the community that the police run things and
they best stay in line."<br>
<br>
Rodstarz and G1 were released on their own recognizance and are still
awaiting a court date. Yet the harrassment didn't stop there. Early in
the morning of June 24th, G1's apartment was raided by the NYPD. They had
no warrant; they did not give a reason for the raid. Needless to say,
they didn't bother to knock. G1 describes the incident:<br><br>
"They pointed their guns at us the whole time as they verbally
barraged MM [his friend] and I with questions as to who we were and what
we were doing there. As I lay on the ground with my hands up, I replied
loudly and clearly that I lived there, and that everyone in the house was
supposed to be there. They replied incredulously, repeatedly yelling
their questions as to who we were, with threats as to what would happen
to us if I was found to be lying."<br>
<br>
The police left without arresting anyone or identifying themselves.<br>
<br>
On September 3rd, G1 and Rodstarz will be headed to court to face
misdemeanor charges of assault and obstruction of justice. Their high
profile in the community as artists and activists may well be used
against them during trial. It wouldn't be the first time for hip-hop, and
certainly not for radical politics.<br>
<br>
Yet the case of Rebel Diaz is hardly isolated. The clearing out of poor
neighborhoods to make way for condos and strip malls is a crime that
happens every day. And of course, the very people whose job it is to stop
crime are the ones carrying it out. Rebel Diaz shouldn't be arrested for
standing up to this injustice. They should be commended, supported, and
most of all, listened to.<br>
<br>
<i>To learn what you can do to support Rebel Diaz, go to their
</font><a href="http://www.rebeldiaz.com/">
<font face="Verdana" size=3 color="#800080">website</a></font>
<font face="Verdana" size=3>.<br>
<br>
Alexander Billet is a music journalist and socialist living in
Washington, DC. He is a regular contributor to Znet, Dissident
Voice, and SleptOn.com. His article on censorship in hip-hop
appears in the recently published "At Issue: Should Music Lyrics Be
Censored for Violence and Exploitation" from Greenhaven Press.
His blog, Rebel Frequencies, can be viewed at
<a href="http://rebelfrequencies.blogspot.com/">
http://rebelfrequencies.blogspot.com</a>, and he can be reached at
<a href="mailto:rebelfrequencies@gmail.com">rebelfrequencies@gmail.com</a>
.<br><br>
<br><br>
</i></font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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