At the Echoplex, Tom Morello lashes out at ICE raids: ‘No one’s coming to save us except for us’

Approximately at 3 pm on Monday, near the Picaresca Barra de Cafe coffee shop in Boyle Heights, musician Tom Morello positioned around a dozen local children and their families against a nearby wall.

He asked them to be bold and fearless as they watched the mistreatment of immigrants in L.A.,” he stated, while strumming his guitar and singing alongside them. Morello, wearing sunglasses and a bandanna like an outlaw, was filming a music video under the harsh afternoon sun. This video was specifically filmed in the community that has suffered the most from recent ICE raids targeting immigrant families in Los Angeles.

He sang, surrounded by children, “Act as if you’ll recall me,” considering that within the past few weeks, they had a high likelihood of witnessing someone they care about being forced into a vehicle and seemingly vanished.

Morello, known as the longtime guitarist of the progressive rock band Rage Against the Machine, expressed his concern about the ongoing ICE raids, stating they need to be made more relatable and understood as we are currently living in very critical times. He shared these thoughts with The Times during a backstage interview at the Echoplex, where he was preparing for a show later on that would raise funds for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.

He stated that the Saturday demonstrations, known as [“No Kings”], demonstrated how any expression of joy serves as a form of defiance during these times. Notably, he observed countless individuals rallying on the streets, celebrating their resistance and sending a clear message: ‘You chose the wrong city to attempt occupation.’

For many years, Morello has been an influential figure in progressive movements based in his adopted city, Los Angeles. This includes his tenure with Rage Against the Machine (which is no longer active), his solo career, and his activism for labor causes. To him, his agitprop punk-funk music and grassroots advocacy work are interconnected aspects of the same ongoing effort.

However, the recent occurrences – where unidentified and badge-less federal agents have forcefully searched, apprehended, and deported working-class immigrants throughout Los Angeles and the nation – left him profoundly affected. With President Trump’s second term in office, it appears that his most ominous predictions in his music are coming true.

As a dedicated cinephile, I spent a few days recently coming together for a charitable event benefiting CHIRLA – a California-based organization that has been on the front lines during the recent ICE raids. This special showing, held on Monday, sold out in a flash. I had the privilege of sharing the stage with B-Real from Cypress Hill, Pussy Riot, K.Flay and the San Diego rap-metal group, the Neighborhood Kids.

In this country, every impactful social movement has been accompanied by a powerful soundtrack, as stated by Morello. To align my beliefs with my career, I’m seeking a solution. Should I create a sign and protest, or text my friends nearby to rally support? Regardless of the method, the goal is to show others that they are not fighting this battle alone.

The concept behind ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) seems to be an attempt to undermine us in our areas of strength, as Morello explained. However, L.A. (Los Angeles) has made it clear that they are not open to such a strategy.

On Monday evening, comedian George Lopez hosted alongside visual artist Shepard Fairey as DJ, and the event commenced earlier than usual. The Neighborhood Kids, a rap-metal group, opened the show, delivering songs filled with raw emotion and authentic details about their experiences as young people of color witnessing their government’s actions affecting their families.

They shouted, ‘It’s time to wake those children from their confines!’ as instruments and technology growled and screeched nearby. On Monday, The Neighborhood Kids gave it their all, showing resilience even in such a challenging situation.

The Russian protest rock group, Pussy Riot, has had firsthand knowledge of life under oppressive regimes, as singer Nadya Tolokonnikova shared onstage, “I spent two years in prison, and let me tell you, it’s awful.” With a pink balaclava hiding her face and a punk-rock backing band by her side, she delivered these words. The music of Pussy Riot, which addresses environmental degradation and employs ironic euro-rave breakdowns, serves as a warning of the grim humor that might become necessary for survival in a future America under persistent threat.

Lopez’s performance during set transitions mirrored the feelings of the fully packed audience: “There are more attendees here tonight compared to Trump’s small birthday party,” was one lighter joke. He prepared for performances by K.Flay, a punky rapper, and B-Real, the stoner genius from Cypress Hill, who symbolized two aspects of Los Angeles’ current reaction – fiery indignation and unwavering self-assurance.

In a more inspirational vein than aggressive, Morello’s personal solo work resonated with a collective spirit. He shared a heartfelt message from his 101-year-old mother encouraging the audience to join the ranks of love’s soldiers. He also performed Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” paid tribute to his late Audioslave bandmate Chris Cornell, and ignited a mosh pit while playing Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.

When questioned by The Times about the possibility of Rage returning during these critical times, Morello was cautious about the band’s future plans. Instead, he encouraged people to take action themselves: “Don’t rely on other bands, this is your moment! If you’re dissatisfied with the current situation, compose your own song, join a union, participate in demonstrations, create a sign, organize a protest.

However, when he announced to the Echoplex audience that they would be hearing an ancient Indigenous war song for the night, followed by a performance of Rage’s “Killing in the Name,” his band played an instrumental version, allowing the crowd to shout its provocative, explicit lyrics symbolizing unyielding defiance.

Morello previously stated that the privilege to retort with those words isn’t inherent; it must be struggled for and achieved anew in each generation.

People should understand that musicians and their listeners may face censorship, possibly leading to imprisonment or forced labor in a camp. Freedom of speech, freedom to create music, and freedom to listen to music are not permanent rights; they’re under threat, even today. No one is coming to protect these freedoms for you, only you can do it. Similarly, no one will save us if we don’t take action ourselves.” – Morello told The Times.

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2025-06-17 21:31