Electronica act Thievery Corporation, indie rock group Le Tigre and singer/songwriter Steve Earle have signed on to perform at “Operation: Ceasefire,” a daylong Sept. 24 concert and rally at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The free event will fall amidst several days of anti-war protests in the U.S. capitol organized by United for Peace and Justice.
Also confirmed are rock artists Bouncing Souls, Ted Leo + the Pharmacists and MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer with the Bellrays, rap acts the Coup and Head-Roc and Latin rock group Machtres.
“The idea of this concert struck a chord with me,” says Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton. “As a private citizen I want to do something because I am very much against all of the post-9/11 wars and occupation — I feel a moral imperative as a human being, who happens to be a musician, to take part in this event.”
Hosted by former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, the concert/rally is being organized by ESL Music, the Mintwood Media Collective, United for Peace and Justice and the DC Anti-War Network.
“Hijacking 9/11 to invade Iraq is the worst mistake our government has made in my lifetime,” Biafra says. “The whole war on terror has been turned into a scam… The best way to support the troops is to bring them home, now. The most patriotic thing any of us can do is to rise up and fight our government when they break the law.”
Additional artists are expected to be added to the bill. For more information, visit OpCeasefire.org.