Southside Johnny in the “We Are Not Afraid” video.
An expanded version of the “We Are Not Afraid” charity video has been released, allowing more screen time for the 200-plus musicians and other celebrities in it, as well as a few added ones, including Bono and Jane Goodall. (You can watch the video below.)
While the original video — intended to raise money for victims of religious and political violence around the world — was four minutes and 50 seconds (not including credits), this one is eight minutes and 28 seconds (not including credits)
New Jerseyans (or artists with strong connections to the Garden State) in the video include Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Nils Lofgren, Joe Walsh, Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Al Anderson of The Wailers, Donald Fagen, Wayne Shorter, Deborah Harry, George Clinton, Bettye LaVette, Yo La Tengo and Guster.
Others include Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Robert De Niro, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Brian Wilson, Sting, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Gabriel, Darlene Love, Chuck D, Grandmaster Flash, Iggy Pop and Yoko Ono.
The long-form video, directed by Bob Gruen (the shorter, original video was directed by Kevin Godley), features music by Nigerian reggae artist Majek Fashek and photos of the participating artists holding signs saying “Not Afraid” (though a few, such as Springsteen, simply provided photos over which the words are superimposed). Royalties will go to Human Rights Watch and the International Rescue Committee.
“We’re alarmed by the hateful and dangerous rhetoric coming from politicians across Europe and the United States,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, in a press release. “We must not allow the rising threat of racism and hate to violate our most basic principles of humanity. We’re moved and grateful that so many artists are speaking out and standing with us for human rights.”
Here is the long-form video.
1 comment
Some liberal advocacy groups and musicians are ticked off with the current political environment, in which their own globalist, multicultural views are being rejected by increasing numbers of people. Sorry, but believing that that national boundaries should be respected; that the uniqueness of one’s own culture is worth preserving, and recognizing the obvious truth that not all ideas, cultures, and religions are equally worthy of respect, isn’t bigotry.
The failure and inability of multiculturalists and globalists to discern differences between cultures, religions, and ideas is what is truly scary and threatens the freedom and dignity of all persons. Throwing truth out the door as the consequence of the multiculturalist fantasy lacks intellectual credibility — only folks with their head in the sand could possibly embrace such nonsense. But I guess none of the folks signing onto this vapid and morally vain initiative can make any claim to intellectual and moral seriousness.