See Also: Ana Tijoux at Puente's Noche de Mujeres
See Also: Ana Tijoux Rocks Phoenix Sunday Night at Puente's Noche de Mujeres
See Also: DREAMers Score a Win with Obama's Immigration Initiative, But the War Is Far from Over
Chilean-French MC Ana Tijoux today released a new music video titled "Shock", showing her support for Arizona's undocumented immigrants in collaboration with the local human-rights group Puente.
Tijoux got a taste of Arizona's anti-immigrant policies courtesy of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio when she visited Phoenix to perform a free concert on Mother's Day at the Puente-sponsored event "Noche de Mujeres."
In the video, the French-born artist sits in an Arizona desert as images hover in the background of a protest by DREAM Activists as they are being arrested in front of Trevor Browne High School by Phoenix police.
"I'm coming out today as undocumented, and unafraid, because I'm tired. I'm tired of people saying I'm illegal," you can hear Daniela Cruz, a protester, say over Tijoux acoustic ballad.
Three other activists arrested in the March protest are featured in Tijoux's video. The protest was a demonstration against Arpaio's reign against immigrants and in support of the DREAM Act, legislation that would legalize young illegal immigrants.
The single has already been used as an unofficial anthem to Chile's student movement. Maybe now "Shock" will serve as an anthem for young undocumented immigrants in their struggle against Arizona's anti-immigrant laws.
"Ana's visit gave us hope and gave us an opportunity to celebrate," Sandra Castro, a Puente organizer, said in a press release."Her music gives our movement a soundtrack and an opportunity to honor our culture, a culture of resistance."
The song is featured in Tijoux's album La Bala. Tijoux is the daughter of Chilean exiles who fled to France in the 1970s, following the coup that brought to power Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Tijoux is now the second artist to show support for the immigrant community in Arizona with the collaboration of Puente and its Los Angeles-based political ally the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. Last year French singer Manu Chao also did a music video filmed in Arizona featuring images of Arpaio's infamous Tent City.
