On Monday night, August 28, an all-star lineup of local musicians will band together to perform a benefit concert dubbed Rock Against Racism. Taking place at the Willow (8200 Willow St), the event’s proceeds will benefit the Southern Poverty Law Center‘s Louisiana branch and features performances from Deacon John Moore, Cyril Neville, Russell Batiste, Claude Bryant and The AllStars, The Hot 8 Brass Band, The Revealers, The Royal Blues, Ben Hunter, DJ Charles Delong, Higher Heights Band, Marc Stone, and Sam Price.
The SLPC monitors hate groups and other extremists throughout the U.S. and exposes their activities to law enforcement agencies, the media and the public and uses the courts and other forms of advocacy to win systemic reforms on behalf of victims of bigotry and discrimination. Donations at Rock Against Racism will the SLCPC of Louisiana help win justice on behalf of those who have no other champion, expose and fight the hate that thrives in our country, and provide tolerance education materials free of charge to schools across our nation.
In Louisiana, those efforts are desperately needed. According to the organization’s local office, Louisiana students face large disparities in educational opportunities and many Louisiana school districts have turned to law enforcement to handle routine disciplinary matters. Research shows such procedures increase a student’s chances of dropping out and ending up in prison. Children in Louisiana are the most likely to grow up and end up in prison. Further more, almost six in ten Louisiana children are unable to access needed mental health services, the worst rate in any state.
There are efforts focused primarily in New Orleans, including a landmark consent decree that will help ensure students with disabilities are no longer denied access to the city’s public charter schools or pushed into schools unable to provide the educational services they deserve under federal law. And in Jefferson Parish, steps are being taken to end the discriminatory treatment of Latino students following our civil rights complaint to the federal government.
Doors for Rock Against Racism open at 5p and the show begins at 6p. There is no cover charge, but donations are strongly encouraged.
