Photo by Wes Orshoski
Neil Young has shared a statement regarding the Jan. 6 demonstration-turned-riot at the U.S. Capitol, saying, “I was shocked to see the Confederate flag being waved inside the chamber; the destruction and disrespect. But mostly I felt bad for the people. With Social media, issues are turned to psychological weapons and used to gather hatred in support of one side or the other. That is what Donald J. Trump has as his legacy.”
Young was born in Canada, and held a U.S. visa for decades before becoming a citizen in early 2020. At the time, Young reportedly took the plunge so he could vote against Donald Trump in the last presidential election.
Of course, through his career, the rock legend has been no stranger to politics, taking part in the anti-war movement of the ’60s and exploring themes environmentalism and corporate exploitation in his music and beyond.
Looking back on the deadly events of Jan. 6, Young called out the discrepancy in how law enforcement approached the mostly white crowd at the Capitol, as compared to their treatment of the Black Lives Matter movement this past summer.
“I was devastated to see the double standard. The way people were treated in the BLM demonstrations recently, compared to the other day. There is no place here for White Supremacy. People need each other to be truly free. Hatred will never find Freedom,” Young writes. “I learned that a some of the people storming the Capitol were police themselves, and gained peaceful entry by showing their badges.”
Young concludes by reflecting on America’s ongoing, poisonous culture of alternative information, especially when it comes to social media.
“I still have my strong beliefs. That has not changed. But now I feel empathy for the people who have been so manipulated and had their beliefs used as political weapons,” he says. “I may be among them. I wish internet news was two-sided. Both sides represented on the same programs. Social media, at the hands of powerful people – influencers, amplifying lies and untruths, is crippling our belief system, turning us against one another. We are not enemies. We must find a way home.
Read Young’s full statement at NeilYoungArchives.com or below:
Sadness and compassion hit me last night as I watched fellow Americans telling their stories.
A young lady in tears spoke of being maced in the Capital. She was crying because she had been attacked and all she was doing was trying to have her voice heard in this Revolution. She was one of thousands who have been carrying the feeling of being persecuted for their beliefs, their feeling that American power just didn’t care.
This, to me is beyond my own feelings that our president has betrayed the people, exaggerated and amplified the truth to foment hatred. Resentment of the Democratic party among the insurrectionists at the Capitol was rampant. We don’t need this hate. We need discussion and solutions. Respect for one another’s beliefs. Not hatred.
I was devastated to see the double standard. The way people were treated in the BLM demonstrations recently, compared to the other day. There is no place here for White Supremacy. People need each other to be truly free. Hatred will never find Freedom.
I learned that a some of the people storming the Capitol were police themselves, and gained peaceful entry by showing their badges. I was shocked to see the Confederate flag being waved inside the chamber; the destruction and disrespect. But mostly I felt bad for the people. With Social media, issues are turned to psychological weapons and used to gather hatred in support of one side or the other. That is what Donald J. Trump has as his legacy.
I still have my strong beliefs. That has not changed. But now I feel empathy for the people who have been so manipulated and had their beliefs used as political weapons. I may be among them. I wish internet news was two-sided. Both sides represented on the same programs. Social media, at the hands of powerful people – influencers, amplifying lies and untruths, is crippling our belief system, turning us against one another.
We are not enemies. We must find a way home.
30 Comments comments associated with this post
Reich Minister
January 13, 2021 at 10:40 amPublic Enlightenment and Propaganda:
Division I: Administration and legal
Division II: Public health; youth; race
Division III: Broadcasting
Division IV: National and foreign press
Division V: Films and film censorship
Division VI: Art, music, and theatre*
Division VII: Protection against counter-propaganda, both foreign and domestic*
Thought Police
January 13, 2021 at 10:33 amO. B. E. Y? because I said so.
DR
January 13, 2021 at 9:53 amIf you are a MAGA zombie racist then you have no business being a jamband fan. Our community does not tolerate your false conspiracy laden bullshit. Go back to your mom’s basement and watch your Nazi porn. And keep your awful asshattery attitude out. We don’t need your polluted thoughts stenching up our world.
Jaggerrich
January 13, 2021 at 12:44 pmAGREED. Yet unfortunately since March 13th, 2020, when the world came to a crashing halt, in essence, that and the Federal Election of yours last year, well it seems this site has been over run with such fools as those that ran into the Capitol last week. I find it quite strange, and eerie, and surprising, but this (Jambands.com) is too, a strand of social media. Let sick Jake ‘The Snake/HORN-Guy’ Angeli, and sad-fuck BIGO Barnett, and others, find a sweet, and firm 10 to 15 years *without Parole in a Federal Penitentiary, after a fair trial.
Croz
January 13, 2021 at 9:38 amI feel empathy for anyone who buys your shitty music — you’ve put out nothing but garbage since Rust… that’s the 70’s.
Jaggerrich
January 13, 2021 at 12:30 pmCompletely wrong. You obviously don’t like Neil, otherwise you wouldn’t show such ignorance. Kind of like if I were chime in about Taylor Swift’s work, I like you, would sound like a fool.
Since “Rust” as you say, just a few great solid albums to mention: Freedom (ahem), Ragged Glory, Harvest Moon, Sleeps with Angels, Mirror Ball, Broken Arrow, Greendale, and Psychedelic Pill.
Kurt
January 13, 2021 at 9:04 amThat’s the answer to everything lock everyone up just like a Communist to say that lock them up if their opinions are not to the Communist left agendas and ideology
CJ
January 13, 2021 at 9:30 amRight…just like Trump has had crowds chanting “Lock her up” about Hillary for 4 years or has repeatedly suggested locking up other Dems for daring to disagree or criticize him. No side has a monopoly on locking up their political opponents.
Michele
January 13, 2021 at 8:35 amI think most of you need to go back and reread the article. Try the social experiment of cutting out all social media (Yes, ALL) and all news coverage for a month and try to feel for the person next to you, regardless of who they are especially their political stance. Neil listened to the story of someone who believes in something he doesn’t & realized the experience was the same; THAT is the point. We’re all humans; all equal. Stop listening to Social Media telling you that you’re better than the next.
Earnest T
January 13, 2021 at 8:30 amIf the “cult” is full of uneducated rubes, why are the tech and corporate overlords squashing all dissent?
F. B. I.
January 13, 2021 at 3:36 amwe’ve got room in our prison systems for un american trump anarchists
Joe b
January 13, 2021 at 3:27 amImpeach and remove benedict donald
Stephen
January 13, 2021 at 1:57 amI only know Neil Young through his music, almost all of his music! I can say that he/we grew up in a time when music and social life was about our experience. It wasn’t all mediated by technology. There were bad things happening then too. We tried to rise above that. It didn’t always work but people communicated more directly. Its easy to spew on a website. I’m doing it now. That’s not leadership. Its weakness really. Real problems are worked out among people. Not in cyberspace. That’s why a legislature is about the last institution you want to attack. Its one of the few forums left where human beings make very important decisions together and attempt to hone down their differences. To build consensus. To find common ground. Or at least to peaceably agree to disagree. All the great authoritarian regimes have turned their legislatures into puppet theaters. There, real power lies with the military, a corrupt bureaucracy, an oligarchy, or a dictator. That’s where America is headed if we lose the willingness to live by compromise. That has to be accepted as part of everyone’s identity if democracy is going to work. In cyberspace everyone becomes an isolated, miserable dictator. A fool on an ant hill. People need to work together in spite of their differences. When I walk down a street I don’t see color, religion or party, I see Americans! We still share an identity and a great country as Americans. Everyone knows there are problems. The political class needs to start reconnecting with America yes. And Americans need to stop shouting, tweeting, snarling and talking over others and start listening and getting out from behind their little screens. The acronym for United States is US, as in WE the people. Thats the only reason an A., as in America, exists after it! Liberals and Conservatives are not the enemies of Freedom. People who thrive on conflict and seek to impose their self interest over others are the far greater adversaries. Reach out to someone you have differences with. Find something better to talk about. Build on that. That’s what real Patriots do. And they don’t need to use a self congratulatory term, or wave a flag or a gun around to get it done. As I’m writing this my father is struggling to survive Coronavirus and I’m just trying to take care of him and not get sick myself. We all have more important things to do than fight our fellow Americans for the love of Mercy! “Sooner or later, it all gets real. Walk on. Walk on.” N.Young. Peace.
Mao
January 13, 2021 at 12:12 amHow’s everybody’s free trial of communism going, Keep on rocking in the ? world.
Tressa DePalma
January 13, 2021 at 3:11 amYup . Smh.
Jaggerrich
January 12, 2021 at 9:31 pmI love Neil.
A tiny bit of a money-grubber, but just lookin’ out for his own (and Daryl), he’s a genius with a vast wealth of good work only “trumped” by Dylan in sheer body.
He’s a good Canadian, and now,….. a good American. Love the Neil
Lame
January 12, 2021 at 5:06 pmLame
Eat Me
January 12, 2021 at 4:11 pmSTFU Neil, go back and change your own country. How many non whites you got up there? Treat the Eskimos well?
paul
January 12, 2021 at 5:07 pmIts a cult
Me
January 13, 2021 at 2:05 amNever liked his political views
me
January 12, 2021 at 1:27 pmAgreed, Neil… as I’ve stated in other comments, there is little difference between Jonestown and those suckered into the Trump cult. And this isn’t a far-right only issue… given time, it can happen on either “side”. Give the wrong person the power of the presidency and this is what can occur. Trump just happened to be on the far right. EDUCATION, SCIENCE, FACT-CHECKING, EQUALITY, ENDING RACISM, HOLDING ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS… they are about the only way this country recovers and moves forward in a positive direction. Stop disinformation, care about each other, allow for differing opinions, give a little and acknowledge when you are wrong…
You
January 12, 2021 at 6:47 pmYou can’t write one paragraph without contradicting yourself…from Jonestown to care about each other and allow for differing opinions.
me
January 12, 2021 at 7:57 pmUm… wrong… my point is that many of Trump’s followers are just like those who followed Jim Jones, victims (if you will) of a cult and an evil person. This is not about differing opinions, this is about a self-obsessed evil human being who cares nothing for anyone but himself. As Neil did, I’m expressing my opinion that some compassion be shown for those who Trump has used. Mike Pence may be the poster boy of my point. But, please… feel free to have your own opinion about what I’ve said…
Daniel
January 13, 2021 at 11:21 amAs much as I admire Young’s work,
I would advise him to stay out of this
and keep his thoughts to himself.
For one thing,he doesn’t know what
he’s talking about.He should wait
until the TRUTH comes out,otherwise
you end up looking just as ignorant
as the others who believe what the
enemedia is selling.
Maybe next Young can tell us how
wonderful of a job Trudeau is doing
in destroying Canada,unless of course
he has naive views about that,too.
Jaggerrich
January 13, 2021 at 12:52 pmTotally ‘BANG ON’, “Me” as is the case most of the time. -JR
Michael Byrnes
January 13, 2021 at 12:25 amYou fools are the ones being manipulated, Fuck Neil YOUNG TOO
Texan
January 13, 2021 at 2:03 amAmen
Tressa DePalma
January 13, 2021 at 3:09 amAgreed. 100% wtf Neil young? You too? I thought you still had a soul. smh. Idiots.
Diana McCullough
January 13, 2021 at 9:44 amUm, Americans show their support for the President and America voted for him because the way Democrats have lead this Country, and they storm the white house, break shit, they actually entered the white house!!! AMERICANS ARE SICK OF OUR GOVERNMENT. NOW, LETS TALK ABOUT THE ACTS OF TERRORISM THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MANIPULATED, EVEN CONVINCED WHITE PEOPLE TO BOW DOWN AND APPOLOGIZE TO THESE PEOPLE FOR SOMETHING THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH. THESE TERRORISTS HAVE MURDERED, EVEN CHILDREN HAVE DIED FROM THEIR VIOLENCE. PEOPLE DEFENDING THEIR PROPERTY, WITH GUNS, ARE THE BAD GUYS? DEMOCRATS ENCOURAGED THEM TO BE TERRORISTS, MANIPULATED THEM, AND THEY WERE HOPING FOR A RACE WAR, AND THE VICTIMS TO FEEL SORRY FOR WHEN PEOPLE START FIGHTING BACK IS BLM. You all will see how shits gonna hit the fan in America, and it dont matter who you are, we are all the same. GODS WRATH IS COMING.
Jim
January 15, 2021 at 8:07 amAmericans enter the WH when? They entered the Capitol Building I assume YOU mean. When YOU know what is going on get back to us. Right “GODS WRATH IS COMING” LOL LOL He or she speak to YOU late at night when YOU are alone? What or who and what God believes is unknown. Lets just hope it is NOT ISIS version of GOD which is about as provable as any Christian version.