kidrock
Originally Posted on September 16, 2017
Tuesday, Little Caesars Arena finally opened their doors to the public. To celebrate, they paid Kid Rock, the self proclaimed "King of Detroit Love" to perform for six nights straight. Kid Rock also has his own restaurant with the arena. Which is pretty odd considering his support of President Trump and the confederate flag. Why is it odd you ask? Well more than 80% of Detroit is black and Detroit's taxpayers involuntarily paid $300 million for the $863 million dollar arena to be built. Many Detroiters criticized Little Caesars Arena's decision to have Kid Rock perform. Many wanted his concerts to be cancelled. But did the arena listen to the taxpayers who paid for most of their arena? No.
On Tuesday evening, hundreds of protesters took to the streets so their voices could be heard. Starting from Grand Circus Park, protesters marched to Little Caesars Arena. Screaming chants like: No justice, no pizza; No hate, No KKK, No Fascist USA; The Anti-Kid Rock protest was met with opposition from the Michigan Militia/Bikers for Trump. Bikers revved their motors as an intimidation tactic and to drown out the words of the protesters. The bikers even had their own Pro Trump and Kid Rock float with quotes like "Drain the Swamp", "Make America Great Again", and ironically, "Unite America". Protesters were also met with jeers and boos from the arena's restaurant goers on a balcony. Concert goers often ran past the crowd shouting words such as "Four more years!", "Kid Rock for America!", and "Get a job!". Kid Rock fans who wore Confederate flags or "MAGA" hats faced ridicule by the crowd. The protest also featured a "Walk of Shame" where protesters made space for concert goers to walk while also heckling them for supporting someone like Kid Rock.
Kid Rock's concert is going on night five. We are expecting his announcement on night six, his last night, to see if he will actually be running for Michigan Senate or not. Hopefully not, but if he does decide to follow Trump's path and run for public office, expect opposition. We also encourage you to boycott Little Caesars Arena who has shown they care more about taxpayer money than the taxpayers themselves.
#Politics #RacialJustice #kidrock #gentrification #littlecaesarsarena
Originally Posted on September 7, 2017
Metro-Detroit Political Action Network Event
Little Caesar's Arena will open to the general public on September 12th, spurning the residents of Detroit by selecting Kid Rock as it's first act. The stadium was granted $324.1 million in tax revenue, some of which initially earmarked for Detroit Public Schools. The Illitch family, owners of Olympia Entertainment, delivered false promises of employing 50% of their construction labor with Detroit residents when the actual figure was closer to 25%. Choosing potential Senate candidate Robert James "Kid Rock" Ritchie twists the dagger further, given the musician's ties to white supremacist political figures.
While the primary focus of the protest is Ritchie, the immediate harm to the people of Detroit by Olympia Entertainment should not be ignored. The company has failed residents in the past with similar deceptions regarding development around Comerica Park.
Ritchie, the self-proclaimed "Rock and Roll Son of Detroit," grew up on a six acre estate Romeo, MI, provided by wealth accrued from a father who owned multiple car dealerships in the region. While developing an interest (and music career) based around breakdancing and hip-hop in his early life, Ritchie gravitated towards Country rock in 2001.
He began using pro-slavery regalia such as Confederate flags during his shows for the next decade. Following a 2011 award by the NAACP, Ritchie claimed he "never flew the flag with hate in my heart" while protesters burned Confederate flags outside the ceremony at Cobo Hall. For the next five years he abstained from the use of white supremacist banners.
However, in 2016 he began breaking from the lyrics of his song "Born Free" at concerts to state "F--k Colin Kaepernick", in response to the quarterback's silent protest against police brutality. An odd choice of target, given that the musician's career was built off appropriating black culture throughout the 90s. Later that year, Ritchie exchanged his dog whistle for a regular one, printing a line of pro-Trump T-shirts featuring Islamophobic slogans, completing his return to white supremacist advocacy.
Given his threat to run against Senator Debbie Stabenow in 2018, MDPAN is calling on Michigan residents to come out in protest of his performance and show that his views run contrary to the will of the people.
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#MDPAN #Detroit #kidrock #whitesupremacy #colinkaepernick #Protest #confederateflag #racialjustice