Michigan Against White Supremacy--a group of activists around Michigan that formed last year to combat the spread of organized racism in Michigan--announced another victory yesterday. The group reports that it successfully pressured Mac's Bar in Lansing to cancel a concert by the band M.O.D. M.O.D is a racist, homophobic, and anti-immigrant band that was originally scheduled to play on August 18th at Mac's Bar.

Michigan Against White Supremacy issued the following statement:

"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."

In the past, Michigan Against White Supremacy has successfully organized against a white supremacist rally in Kalamazoo and various events in Lansing, most recently shutting down a planned talk by Canadian fascist Paul Fromm.