Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach Sounds Off About Racism
If you have a platform of any kind — like you’re in a famous band, for instance — you have absolutely no excuse for remaining silent on the issues of racism and bigotry in the world today.
I get it: you don’t want to alienate any portion of your fanbase.
FUCK THAT.
Silence is complicity. Silence is no better than saying “on many sides” when the issue is very clear ONLY ON ONE SIDE. Silence gives voice to hatred.
One person who is not remaining silent: Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, who posted his thoughts on recent events on Instagram today. Leach makes an attempt to take politics out of the equation, a noble effort, but one I’m not sure will work — issues of racism and privilege have become so intertwined with politics in today’s culture that people have become conditioned into tying them together even when we all should be able to agree on very basic ideas.
In any case, it’s great to see Leach speaking out for what he believes in, as well as defending his right to do so. Here’s his post, edited slightly for clarity:
“Here is my facial response to those few special people who want to discuss and argue about about: “how racism isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be”, nonsense politicks, people who “over react” when it comes to Nazi & white power hate groups.
“REALLY?! I’m not a violent man (for the most part) I write about peace & equality!!! Dude seriously have you ever read my lyrics? Do you not know I’m hardcore anti racist & have been fighting for equal rights since I started writing?! Do you not know I’m married to a dark skinned Dominican woman for 17 years?! I was raised in a very racially mixed environment with people of all colors and backgrounds that I love and would take a bullet for!
“I’m not picking a side in whatever left/right bullshit you’re on about. I’m not in any way a part of any extreme liberal, conservative or whatever short sighted group you think I’m aligned with. I am a man who is passionately opposed to any hate group, any one who takes away rights of anyone to love, serve, marry or make a decent living in this damn country regardless of social status, race, sex, religion, sexual preference and gender identity! It’s not a difficult concept people! Politicians and religious beliefs should not dictate how or when these rights are given or taken.
“In a perfect world we all coexist peacefully, but we all know that ain’t happening! So in the meantime I will speak my mind, post what I want and say what I want to say peacefully (and if I choose, without comment from anyone). I wish we weren’t in the place we are in, in this country or hell in the world… but we are.
“Please know this, I DON’T CARE about the puppets that we call politicians, I saw through that hoax when I was a kid. They are pawns nothing more & yes they can stir us up and make unfair ridiculous laws. Just know I base all of my convictions & concerns off of what I know and what I try to understand when it comes to empathy & sympathy for others, not a political agenda! If you are coming at me to have a conflict you are choosing the wrong person. Be you, believe what you will, but when you approach me with it I have every right to shut you down, oppose you and vehemently disagree! This is my page ✌????”
Leach followed up the above post with another a few minutes later of a vocal recording booth. My guess would be he’s demoing out new Times of Grace material, since he’s been talking about that a bit lately. Both of the originals are posted below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX0w2dZAo1h/?taken-by=jesse_d_leach
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX006aQAe80/?taken-by=jesse_d_leach
