Subject:
MDC BANNED...at my school.
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 16:16:13 -0800
>
> First of all, I would like to say hello and that I really like
your music and messages. However, I recently purhcased a probably
unofficial backpatch of the "Millions of Dead Cops" logo/drawing
at a recent show (Lower Class Brats and Total Chaos). I wore this
to school the other day, and keep in mind that I go to a Middle School
and I am in eigth grade, but it was confiscated for being "Racist
and violent". The administration said that it was portraying
racists and insulting police. It was also said to be telling people
to kill a police officer. No, I argue, it is just a band name and
they are very anti-racist, this is just to show that policemen are
oftentimes racist. They hold fast in their beliefs that it is wrong
(I go to horribly right-wing school, in California) to wear. So I
organized a petition, and so far everyone who I have asked has signed,
with me telling them why of course. I have 120 something out of 400
kids at my school, and I haven't even asked the other ones. I even
have a teacher on my side. So, I have no idea why I am mentioning
this, but good job in making that patch controversial instead of just
your name. Also, you can send an e-mail to the Vice-Prinicipal, who
is in charge of all this nonsense, at whistler@marin.k12.ca.us. Her
name is Ms. Whistler (our school does not allow us to address them
by their first names,sadly). My school website is http://rusd.marin.k12.ca.us/delmar/staff.htm.
If you want to send your signature or a letter to the school for my
petition, please send it too:
Brace Belden
146 Trinidad Dr.
Tiburon, CA
94920
Thank you very much.
The
Follow Up
From:
david dictor
>Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 11:38 PM
Subject: Fwd: MDC BANNED...at my school.
Dear Ms. Whistler,
Hello my name is David Dictor , I am the singer of the band MDC, which
among other things has been used to call my band Millions Of Dead
Cops. I realize you are an educator in charge of regulating and safeguarding
your students there in Tiburan. I wanted to express to you first that
we are indeed an anti-klan band and have been involved with many actions
against the klan and for that matter many political actions over the
last 20 years from Rock Against Racism , Tractors For Nicarargua ,Brazilian
Landless Peasants and Farmworkers Rights Party, Food Not Bombs , to
the current Stop The War and Fight Racism Actions that swept Washington
D.C. and the bay area, this past weekend protesting the impending
war in Iraq.
I want to express that we never have encouraged people to kill the
police though we certainly have empathy for those having to deal with
extremely repressive regimes around the world. When we actually express
"kill the cop" it's in reference to "killing the cop
in oneself" or to free one self from self repression and self
hating and towards personal liberation.
At the same time I realize you are in very tricky situation concerning
the various view points in this society. How they judge those that
are part of the educational system and just how free we can actually
be in this American society subjected to the various viewpoints of
all its members. I would just have to remind you that what you have
on your hands is a very freespirited and independent student and I
ask you to deal with him as a future citizen who looks to you to be
fairminded and open to his youthful exuberance. Guide him and explain
your situation. Please do not just punish him and shut him out. He
is standing up for himself and his beliefs not just going along with
the status quo like so many unthinking, unconscious people we all
deal with in our society. 
Well thank you for your time. I hope this all resolves itself in a
calm way that allows for growth and self reflection by all participants.
Its what we all need here and now in our society.
Good luck in your important task of preparing young people for a full,
fruitful, politically active and conscious, human life.
Respectfully,
David Dictor -age 47
(educator of developmentally disabled students here in New York City,
recycler, activist and lead singer of the politically active punk
band MDC.
