De La Rocha Planning Arizona Protest Concerts

Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack De La Rocha is planning a series of concerts to protest Arizona's controversial state immigration laws.

The outspoken rocker is spearheading the Sound Strike campaign aimed atprompting touring acts to boycott Arizona until state officials agree torepeal the new law, which requires local authorities to determine a person's immigration status if he or she is suspected of being undocumented.

And now he's planning a series of protest concerts in July (10).

He tells Billboard.com, "In the coming weeks we are going to be organising a series of concerts that are respectful of the nature of the boycottin its attempts to isolate the Arizona government but not isolate the people, and especially the organisations that are fighting this on the ground.

"Many of us have begun to plan concerts that include bands that have signed on the Sound Strike, and make tickets available so that people within Arizona can come and see these concerts as they roll out". And De La Rocha says there's "a strong chance"

Rage Against the Machinewill play one or more of the concerts. The acts who have signed up for the Sound Strike initiative - and thus boycott Arizona venues - include Ry Cooder, Maroon 5, My Morning Jacket, Ben Harper and Pitbull.