Police Prevent Rage Against The Machine From Playing With Anti-Flag; No Riot Ensues

A few weeks ago, we reported that Anti-Flag was playing Tuesday on the Capital Lawn in St. Paul, Minnesota, as part of the Republican National Convention.

Apparently, that show went on with a hitch for the most part, until their planned grand finale, when Rage Against The Machine was going to take the stage and do a set with Anti-Flag's gear.

Then the police opted to step in. Rather than allow the band to play a set at what had been, up to that point, a peaceful protest concert, they blocked RATM from taking the stage. The band apparently handled it all creatively and with class, playing an a capella set on a megaphone.

From Anti-Flag's blog:

As the crowd chanted, "Let them play..." a plan was formulated. Rather than bow to police oppression and law enforcement's blatant disregard for free speech and the Constitution, it was decided that RATM would walk around the stage into the audience and issue a statement. From there things took on a life of their own...

There is a video of the proceedings on Anti-Flag's site as well. Check out a protest that could have gone horribly wrong handled with class as well as passion.

Rage Against The Machine is more than welcome to play my next protest.

Photo: Anti-Flag, © Nicole Lucas