Ikonclasta - Detained In Lisboa

I got a message from a promoter that I regularly get updates from, and he asked me to help spread the word on this situation. In his own words:

A friend of mine is a political activist in Angola, he s actively involved in the student movement which is fighting to restore democracy locally. Luaty aka Ikonoklasta spoke out against the government during one of his shows, he urged the crowd to attend an anti-government rally, and ever since he s been beaten up, arrested, his house was broken into, his girlfriend kidnapped, his whole family terrorized with anonymous death threats etc. 

On June 11 he flew into Lisboa to join the Portuguese Kuduro group Batida for their European tour. H was arrested at the airport, the Angolan secret service planted in excess of 1kg of cocaine in his luggage. It's highly improbable that he will serve any time, as it was even clear to the Portuguese customs officers that it was a set up, but he s yet to stand trial. 

Click the "CC" on the video to get the English subtitles.

Here's some of Ikonoclasta's music, it's kind of political soca/grime/electronica with a whimsical edge:


Batida - Cuka feat.Ikonoklasta (English Subtitled) from Fazuma on Vimeo.

It's not often that electronic music explore topics beyond partying, especially one promoting explicit political viewpoints. This particular tune about about many things, but the message that stands out is don't waste you time boozing, the government is using it to distract you from it's suppressive conditions. In context with the current regime in Angola it makes prefect sense.

And some background on the student protest movement in Angola.



Additional info about other detained protesters can be found here: http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/05/angola-protesters-detained-disappeared

Help do your part to spread the word and raise awareness. Like, share, tweet, and repost this article and videos among your social network. Thanks and big up to Lukasz for bringing this to my attention.

Police Brutality Isn't a Dream

This normally not a political blog, and I apologize if this conflicts with any of views our new contributor Mike might have, but I have to get this out there.

Video analysis by blogger Matt Kresling: "Footage from the Occupy Oakland protest, October 25th, 2011. After protesters ran to the aid of a badly-injured person, Oakland Police deliberately lobbed a flash grenade into the crowd. Whatever you think of the Occupy movement, police behavior of this kind is criminal and should be prosecuted."

This is fucked up for sure. IMO it's only going to get worse. And if that happens, people need to get their shit together and send a bit more of unified message. Otherwise this movement isn't going to amount to anything, just general discontent with corporations, tax inequalities, campaign finance and student debt. Violence and bloodshed like this isn't worth a message of general discontent, because then nothing, will change. It's too vague. There's a lot that's fucked up, but let's try get at least one thing accomplished. My top 3 issues in order of importance are: 1. Repeal Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy. 2. Prosecute Wall St. financial criminals. 3. Close Corporate tax loopholes. What are issues do you have? Remember my friends, United We Stand. Now is the time to focus. Be safe out there.

BTW here's an update for those of you concerned with the victim:

Veteran For Peace member Scott Olsen, a Marine Corps veteran twice deployed to Iraq, is in hospital now in stable but serious condition with a fractured skull, struck by a police projectile fired into a crowd in downtown Oakland, California in the early morning hours of today.

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/news_detail.php?idx=123

*UPDATE* Apparently there is a planned general strike and day of action for Nov. 2 in Oakland. Good luck you brave souls, let's hope someone can get their shit together enough to get a solid point across. More info can be found here: http://www.occupyoakland.org/2011/10/general-strike-mass-day-of-action/ *UPDATE2* Cleaned up some of my fucking typos.