A New Patriotism

Posted by Lukas Brekke-Miesner at 8:00 AM | 1 comment | Permalink

“Bin Laden didn’t blow up the projects. It was you n----, tell the truth n----. Bush knocked down the towers. Tell the truth!” As the crowd bulldozed though the chorus of Immortal Technique’s inflammatory song “Bin Laden,” the Harlem emcee paced the stage of Manhattan’s The Madison, playing resident hype man of the 9/11 Truth Movement. The moment encapsulated the fervor of a patriotic night of hip-hop, truth telling and advocacy.

On a weekend where many opted for moments of silence to commemorate the seventh anniversary of 9/11, 2008 Now or Never sought to bring justice to the victims, first responders and the American public by demanding answers to what some left-wing watchdog groups see as suspicious questions surrounding the attacks.

The star-studded concert was a benefit for first responders, a group of 9/11 rescue workers who've been largely ignored by the government. They include firefighters, police officers, port authority workers and volunteers who searched for victims in contaminated debris at and around ground zero in the weeks following the attacks. Now, many suffer from life-threatening respiratory illnesses.

The concert, however, was only a portion of the four-day affair, which also included demonstrations, speeches, movie screenings and a barbeque.

The weekend also represented the convergence of activist groups like We Are Change, the 9/11 Truth Movement, and the FealGood Foundation, all of whom advocate for an independent investigation of the 9/11 attacks and aid first responders.

Read the rest of the post »