TAMED STREETS - THE MYTH OF THE HIP HOP PROTEST by Adisa Banjoko, Pacific News Service on on WireTap, Alternet's teenage sidekick:

"What happened to the fiery war protests of old? Have today's protests -- even those originating from the hip-hop community -- been tamed by the state? (...) Today, if people decide they want to protest, they go get a permit from the city. Then all the vendors set up shop to sell T-shirts, and the hotdog guy gets his permit, too. (...) A year or two ago, I went to a hip-hop rally to free a Black political prisoner. Due to a great lack of organization, the event was running out of time on its permit. The head organizer was in a panic. "We've got to finish this fast," he said. "If we don't, we'll be fined!"

If "the revolution" is fined, to whom do we write the check when we win? These days, we're being told when we can protest, how long, and what the penalties will be for our misbehavior. Sounds like we're being pimped by the state on all the rules of engagement."