Tom Morello Releases New Song and Music Video, "Pretend You Remember Me"

Singer-songwriter, Rage Against the Machine guitarist and activist Tom Morello has unveiled a brand new single and music video titled “Pretend You Remember Me”. The video features a powerful message on immigration, delivered by freed political prisoner Leonard Peltier. Morello directed the video, which features Peltier speaking alongside political footage, while Morello sings amongst a group of women, children and men that are being affected by the ICE raids.

“Pretend You Remember Me” was written by Morello, and was produced, mixed and mastered by Zakk Cervini. In a press release announcing the song, Morello stated the following:

“This song is written for all the families torn apart by the recent immigrant purges and kidnappings. Children torn from their wailing mothers’ arms by masked government thugs, people coming home to find their loved ones abducted by the state. Folks who worked, suffered, and struggled for decades just to make a decent life for themselves and their family were violently separated with an uncertain future. “Pretend You Remember Me” is for them and for all those who are finding the courage to stand up against racism, tyranny, and injustice.” 

The song is being release in partnership with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), a nonprofit organization that has served and protected the Los Angeles immigrant community since 1986. The charity aids in getting the legal defense teams they need as well as fighting against wage theft, discrimination, and harassment in the workplace regardless of immigration status.

You can check out the video in its entirety below.

Main Photo: Tom Morello performing in Sacramento, CA // Main Photo Credit: Jared Stossel for Shameless SF/Staff