After many back and forths, M.O.D. did not perform at Macs Bar. This came through public pressure and disciplined efforts to get the word out on what M.O.D. represents. This is a reminder that we all have the ability to influence what takes place in our social & music scenes. We don’t have to put up with racist bands like M.O.D., any more than we have to put up with nazi skinheads. Thanks to all who spoke out and took action.

Protest

Monday, August 18th
8pm to 10pm
Mac's Bar
2700 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing, MI 48912

The M.O.D. show is scheduled to take place at Mac's on Monday
August 18th.  There will be a protest of the show from 8pm to
10pm outside of Mac's.  It is true that the the owner of Mac's,
Chuck Mannino, stated that the show was canceled.  It is
also true that he decided to have the show after canceling it
and has gone back on his word.  For more information or for
background go to www.maws.wordpress.com.

It is important to note that Chuck is no longer claiming that
M.O.D.'s lyrics are supposed to be dark humor and ironic,
something he was claiming initially.  It is pretty easy to
see why but read one last time and decide for yourself.
See you on Monday.

It is despicable but true.  Here's the situation.

Macs Owner Chuck Mannino had been saying the show was
cancelled. Last Thursday Chuck told myself and others that
there was no way the show would happen. He stated the that
the M.O.D. show is canceled as did members of his staff.
He stated the same members of the Hip Hop group FOS and to
DJ Ruckus.  FOS hosts the monthly hip hop night,
"Respiration" at Mac's and had told Chuck that they would
move their monthly event to a different venue if the
M.O.D. show took place.  FOS and DJ Ruckus had been
working to get Chuck to cancel the show.  Chuck was
planning (or at least pretending to plan) to have FOS
and DJ Ruckus play an "anti-racist" show in place of
the M.O.D. event to cover the cost of cancelling the
M.O.D. event and to demonstrate that
Mac's is a tolerant place.  The replacement show will
not be happening and Chuck has chosen to have the M.O.D.
show.

Over this past weekend, Chuck did not answer any phone
calls and this (tuesday) morning he texted FOS saying
the M.O.D. Show was no longer cancelled because he
could not get ahold of the booking agent.
Chuck has gone back on his word.

This has become about more than the disgusting songs of
M.O.D. This is about more than the fact that Chuck
Mannino and Mac's are hosting a Racist, Homophobic,
Anti-Immigrant and all around ignorant band.  This is
about more than trying to influence our music scenes
and community in a positive way.

Now, this is also about a local business and music
venue that is playing us for fools.  Its about Chuck
Mannino having no integrity and him being willing to
do anything for a lousy buck. Mac's has in the past
been a place supportive of independent, underground
and progressive music.  Those days are gone.  Under
Chuck's direction, Mac's is about the money and
nothing else. During this whole situation, several
people have been in contact saying they are glad
someone is addressing racist and homophobic
tensions at Mac's.  Its clear now that Chuck is
not interested in addressing problems and only
cares about the money, not about the music.

Chuck Mannino is a coward who can not be
trusted. Not ever again.  Don't spend money
there and don't book shows there.  Mac's is not
a welcoming place and won't be
until someone else owns it.

What can we do?
here are things we can do.

1. Call Chuck Mannino with your thoughts
   Cell Number: 517.614.2362

2. Come to a mass demonstration outside of Macs on
   Monday, August 18th (Time TBA)
   2700 E Michigan Ave Lansing, MI 48912

3. Tell your friends, neighbors, bands you know,
people you know who work at macs, etc.. about the
show and about Chuck playing us all for fools.

4. Don't go to Mac's anymore, don't book shows
their as a band or artist and get the word out
about the double handed way things go down over
there.

************update*************
M.O.D. Show at Mac's Uncanceled, Owner Chuck Manino goes back
on his word.

The M.O.D. Show that was to take place at Mac's bar has been
canceled.  The owner chuck has decided to cancel the show after
public pressure. Chuck has personally stated to folks working
on this issue and to members of F.O.S., who host the monthly
hip hop night, Respiration at Mac's, that the M.O.D. show will
not happen.  This should be seen as a victory both in
preventing racist bands from playing but also as an example
of how we have the power to shape what our music scenes and
communities look like.  We have alot more say in how things
happen than we think.  By taking action and speaking up,
even parts of lansing culture that have their contradictions,
over time, can be what we hope them to be.

This victory should not be seen as the end of this story, but
the beginning.  It can help start conversations that need to
be had.  There are contradictions both in our music and our
actions that, while not as explicitly fucked up as M.O.D.,
still need to be dealt with.  Finding a way to confront these
contradictions without simply saying fuck you, but acting in
a way that helps us address them and move forward, is the real
challenge of this situation.

thanks to everyone who got involved.

Owner Chuck Mannino Refuses to Cancel Show

Download a flyer about this here: Flyer Side 1 and Side 2

M.O.D. is a racist, homophobic and anti-immigrant band that has no place in the lansing community. Members of this band were formerly part of Stormtroopers of Death, S.O.D. also known as “Speak English Or Die”.

M.O.D will be playing Monday, August 18th at Mac’s Bar in Lansing. Their full songs and disturbing lyrics can be found here.

Mac’s is looking to make money off of intolerance and racism. Chuck, the owner of Macs’s and the person who books the bands at Mac’s bar has been contacted about this band and told of their views. He has been asked to cancel the show and has refused to do so.

Its up to us to change his mind.

Call Chuck and tell him to cancel the show or stop in at Mac’s (2700 E Michigan Ave Lansing, MI 48912) and let them know that the show needs to be cancelled and if it isn’t, you won’t be going back to Mac’s.

Chuck Mannino: 517.614.2362

If the show isn’t cancelled, see you outside Mac’s on August 18th because together we can shut it down. We believe it has no place here and should be canceled and if needs be, shut down. Read the lyrics and decide for yourself.

Is this garbage something that belongs in our music scenes and communities? In the past, Macs has been welcoming to independent, progressive and underground music. Macs has cancelled racist bands. But that was under different owners. With Chuck in charge, the new Mac’s would rather make money off of racists than respect the community.

The following lyrics are from the hardcore band M.O.D. who will be playing Monday, August 18th at Mac’s Bar in Lansing. The full songs can be read here.

“So fuck those nigger’s charity And let them die of thirst……….Let them all die hungry So I can breath their air”

“Anally Inflicted Death Sentence; A.I.D.S., That’s what you get for having a penis up your ass”

M.O.D. is a racist, homophobic and anti-immigrant band that has no place in the lansing community.  Members of this band were formerly part of Stormtroopers of Death, S.O.D. also known as “Speak English Or Die”.

Chuck, the owner of Macs’s and the person who books the bands at Mac’s bar has been contacted about this band and told of their views. He has been asked to cancel the show and has refused to do so. Mac’s is hosting a bigoted band, which they are allowing to play in their venue. In response to this, local folks are organizing to shut this event down. Please Join us on tuesday, august 5th at 9pm to organize to shut this event down ahead of time or if it comes to it, on the day it happens. We have the ability to prevent garbage like this from showing up in our community. Hope to see you there.

Shut down Racist Band Playing at Mac’s
Organizing Meeting
Tuesday
August 5th
9pm
At Northstar

NorthStar 106 Lathrop St.
Lansing, MI 48912

LYRICS That M.O.D. Actively sings:

“Aren’t You Hungry”

U.S.A. for Africa What a fucking scam
Charity begins at home What about our land
America has it’s own problems That’s what should come first
So fuck those nigger’s charity
And let them die of thirst
U.S.A. for U.S.A. That’s what I’d like to see
But sympathetic assholes
Send it all to their own countries
They want the food to grow
On what they call home land
But don’t you know
You can’t grow anything in sand
I think of people starving
But do you think I care
Let them all die hungry
So I can breathe their air

“A.I.D.S.”

You’re accused of the following charges
You’re a woman trapped inside a man
Your sexuality no one denies you
But your preference we can’t understand
You are the lonliness of all people It’s time for you to realize
AIDS like the plague is from God
For he sees something wrong in his eyes
Anally Inflicted Death Sentence
A.I.D.S.
That’s what you get for having a penis up your ass
You should have used a condom
That’s what you get when you swallow another man’s load
A lubricated condom
How do you find love in another man’s hairy ass
You should have used a condom
Millions of hamsters Running rampant through your bowels
Take the Hershey Highway

“Makin’ Friends is Fun”

criticize our country – kick us when we’re down
criticize our military movements on the ground
you think that we’re a joke -
here’s something to quote: shove your turban in your trap or I’m gonna kill your goat!!!
you wanna be a martyr – we’re happy to oblige
you wanna be a victim of a system that divides
you wanna be a hero – then we gonna collide
you wanna go to paradise – we’ll pay for the ride
scream about atrocities – our country has perpetrated
scream about the policies – about to be implicated
scream about alliances – our country has affiliated
scream about poor villages – about to be incinerated
say we are the terrorists – that we are to blame
that it might as well have been us piloting those planes
we brought it to ourselves – so you fuckin say
here’s a couple daisy cutters – have a nice fuckin day!
scream about atrocities…………
why don’t you pack your bags and leave the States?!
since it pains you so much to watch their fate here’s your 10 million back
shove it up your fuckin Saudi ass!
getting rich on our democracy, riding on our freedom’s back …
makin’ friends is fun!
criticize our country……………
complain about our country – as coalitions build
with the UN as your soap box – and your pockets filled with bills
I got some news for new as you’re drilling in the sand
the guilt is on your face, the blood is on your fuckin hands
scream about atrocities…………
scream about humanity – America’s insanity
you’re always there kissing our ass when we’re handing out our cash
why don’t you pack your tent and leave the States?!
since it pains you so much to watch their fate here’s your 10 million back – shove it up your
fucking Saudi ass!
getting rich on our democracy, riding on our freedom’s back
why don’t you pack your bags and leave?! …making friends is FUN !

“Imported Society”

They came from the other side
In bunches at a time
Crowding up the neighborhood
To raise the rates of crime
Some of them got money
Most of them got shit
All they do is come here
To take from our pockets
Import, import, imported society
Don’t you fucking see
That you bother me
Genocide
You can’t hide
So go home now
Don’t come back
Take your goat
Get on your boat
I hate imports
I don’t want to hear their shit
I hate imports
Cause I’m just so sick of it
I just want to Live my life without you fucking assholes
And I want to Never see your ass again
Import, import, imported society
Hindus and Ethiopians
You know they’re all the same
A huck a buck of Indians
They’re all so fucking lame

“Jose Can You See”

Here come la cucarachas. Across the Rio Grande
Shaking their maracas invading my homeland
No sign of integration its simple infiltration
To disrespect the legalized, break into our nation

There is a taco bell next to the alamo
It just goes to show that America needs more men like John Wayne
To drive them south of the border again
We must have national pride, Americans rise!

Here comes la cucarchas, to pick all the tomatoes
En (bente) in le casa La Raza invado!
My neighborhood el stinko, my country down the drinko
The ACLU sold us out Death to those fucking pinkos

There is a taco bell next to the alamo
It just goes to show that America needs more men like John Wayne
To drive them south of the border again
We must have national pride, Americans rise!

On Saturday, Anti-racists successfully shut down the Paul Fromm Event that was to be held at the Cadillac Club. Though the Cadillac Club initially said the event would take place and that they didn’t care who knew it, David Sheets did a 180 degree flip flop and cancelled the event as anti-racists arrived to protest it. This just goes to show that we can be success in opposing these types of events if we are organized and committed. congratulation to the folks out there on saturday and keep up the good work.

Mediamouse.org has published an article giving an overview of who Paul Fromm is and his involvement in the racist right.

Saturday, April 12th, Neo-Nazi Paul Fromm will be speaking at the Cadillac Club in Lansing.

Fromm is major leader in the Canadian racist scene. Fromm has attended white supremacist meetings including one held to mark the anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s death; shouted “Scalp him!” at a meeting where a representative of the Native Canadian Centre was speaking; attended meetings and delivered speeches alongside well-known racists like American David Duke and Holocaust denier David Irving.

The Cadillac Club is owned by David Sheets, a Lansing businessman involved in local Republican politics. Sheets has been informed of who Paul Fromm is and has refused to cancel the event. Sheets has stated that “This event doesn’t effect him” and that “He doesn’t care if people know the event is happening at the Cadillac Club or not”. David Sheets has chosen to give white supremacists a venue for their bigotry and hate.

The Paul Fromm event will be a gathering of racists from around the state. Local racists Kyle Bristow and Evan Thomas (Cutner) are suspected of being involved in bringing Fromm to Lansing.

What You can do:

1. Picket the Cadillac Club and Paul Fromm:

Saturday April 12th
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Cadillac Club
1115 S Washington Ave
Lansing, MI 48910

2. Call the Cadillac Club and David Sheets demanding they cancel the event. Please do this between 11am and 3pm. Feel free to tell them what you think about local businesses that host white supremacist speakers.

Cadillac Club
(517) 853-1915

David Sheets’ office
(517) 371-2843

During these hard economic times when we should be uniting, Paul Fromm & David Sheets are dividing our community. Please join us in our opposition to Fromm’s Hate Speech and David Sheets’ complicity in that hatred. Help us send the message that hatred and bigotry have no place in our community.

In struggle,
- Michigan Against White Supremacy

For more information on Paul Fromm:

Who is Paul Fromm

Background on Paul Fromm

SPLC article on Paul Fromm losing his teaching certificate