Michael Franti Urges Protestors To Remain Peaceful In Video Message

Click here to view his video message which has already earned over 500,000 views. This powerful message has been enthusiastically shared around the world by celebrities, fellow musicians, and FRANTI's diverse fan base, known as the "Soulrockers."

"Protests are a form of communication. You can communicate love or you can communicate hate. Right now Nazi's, White Supremacists, KKK, alt-right groups, anti-Semitic, Islamaphobic, misogynist and anti-LGBTQ groups are trying to make hate acceptable in our world.

You want to oppose this hate and stand up for diversity and equality? We need you. Online and in the streets. If you are opposing violence be non-violent. You might be personally angry and want to punch a Nazi. But don't let your anger, your pride or your ego suck you into a confrontation that gets played on TV over and over again and makes the conversation focus only on violence rather than equality for all people.

Right now we need everyone who cares to raise their voice for equality and diversity. Let's stand together and show our strength through our solidarity. Stand up for love."

--Michael Franti

Look for MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD to perform this Saturday, August 26 at the Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco. A local Bay Area coalition of citizens' and community groups, activists, and artists has announced an anti-hate counterprotest to Saturday's planned gathering of neo-nazi's and far-right agitators at Crissy Field. Thousands of people are expected to gather in solidarity against the hate groups and in celebration of the diversity that makes San Francisco and the nation stronger. In the wake of the recent violence and tragic death of a peaceful protester in Charlottesville, VA-as well as the massive counterprotest in Boston last weekend that dwarfed a neo-nazi gathering there-local Bay Area residents are coming together to show solidarity in the face of divisive, hateful, dangerous, and often violent white supremacist rhetoric. Together, organizers and participants are offering a different vision of our country: one that is peaceful, inclusive, and celebratory of our uniquely American diversity. All likeminded people are encouraged to join the celebration at Civic Center Plaza and to avoid those who are likely to seek violent encounters.The theme for the day, Peace, Music & Laughter, seeks to focus on what unites us rather than what may divide us. Civic Center Plaza will be a place for all those who oppose hate, neo-nazism, and white supremacy in any form to gather and show that our city rejects the kind of hatred and bigotry that has been has been far too prominently on display over the past several weeks. Says FRANTI: "Right now it's important that we not just stand against hate, but that we raise our voices with solidarity in support of diversity, inclusion and equality. Music is a unifying force in the world and in this time we need artists to standup, inspiring people to come together around these values."

Meanwhile, last week, MICHAEL FRANTI's song "Yes I Will" (from his 2003 acoustic album, Songs From The Front Porch) was highlighted in Tom Schnabel's KCRW playlist of musical reflections about Charlottesville. SaysSchnabel: "Franti has fronted the group Spearhead for over two decades. A brilliant and incisive songwriter and poet, Franti writes songs that are engaged and committed to human rights and freedom." https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/tom-schnabels-rhythm-planet/musical-reflections-on-charlottesville

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD are currently on their 2017 "Love Out Loud" worldwide tour. Their current and ninth studio album SOULROCKER(Fantasy/Concord Records) includes the song and video "Love Will Find A Way."https://youtu.be/P5PPBT4oues

For information and tour dates, click here