Rage's Morello Arrested At Guess? Protest

The activist guitarist was one of 33 people charged with obstruction of a place of business.

Addicted To Noise Staff Writer Chris Nelson reports : Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello was one of 33 people arrested for obstruction of a place of business on Saturday during a California protest against clothing maker Guess? Inc. Between 200 and 300 people turned out for the action, which included a march as well as a demonstration blocking the entrance to the Santa Monica Place Mall. The protesters alleged that Guess? uses sweatshop labor and engages in union-breaking practices.

"We're trying to get people to not buy Guess? products," Morello said during an Addicted To Noise interview last month. Morello said educating listeners about Guess? is a primary focus for Rage this holiday season. "We're against it because they use sweatshop labor in Calcutta or whatever, and in the United States -- in Los Angeles, New York City, and the Bay Area. They have, like, slave labor conditions. And they're counting on the people that are reading this not to care. They think that fashion is more important and whatever, and so that brutal exploitation of those workers isn't going to matter to them. We're betting that they're wrong."

Representatives from Guess? were not available for comment at press time, but a pamphlet issued by the company in response to charges of the use of sweatshop labor said that the company requires all contractors to comply strictly with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. However, earlier this year, Guess? lawyer Daniel Petrocelli told PBS' "News Hour" that the it is impossible for the company to enforce a perfect monitoring system with its contractors. "You cannot know what people are doing 24 hours a day in their own factories," Petrocelli said. "We don't work in the factories. They're independent factories. We can only know so much."

Hillary Horn, spokeswoman for the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE), which organized the protest, said Morello's participation on Saturday was key because the markets for Rage's music and Guess? clothing intersect. "Guess?, which produces some of its clothing in sweatshops in Los Angeles, targets the 16- to 25-year age group in its marketing -- the same age group that makes up some of Rage Against the Machine's audience," Horn said. "Having Tom Morello counter that advertising with a message of truth is an effective way of convincing young people to support the boycott of Guess? clothing."

Last month, UNITE filed a complaint against Guess? with the National Labor Relations Board. "It alleges that the company engaged in unfair labor practices while the union was attempting to unionize some employees," said the NLRB's Patricia Gilbert.

Those arrested during Saturday's demonstration were taken into police custody and handed misdemeanor citations. [Mon., Dec. 15, 1997, 9 a.m. PST]