By Chris Richburg
Rap duo Dead prez will mark the celebration of Juneteenth with an appearance at the Shut it Down -- Stop the Torture concert.
The event, which is hosted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Amnesty International (AIUSA), Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, will take place on Tuesday (June 19) at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
In addition to Dead prez, rapper Mystic will also perform at the event, which will include a briefing that aims to raise awareness about torture and human rights as well as current injustices in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The briefing will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at 2237 Rayburn H.O.B.
Both events coincide with the observance of Juneteenth, a holiday which takes place each year on June 19 to mark the observation of the 1865 emancipation of African-American's in the United States.
By holding the event on Juneteenth, event organizers hope to motivate a new set of activists to take a stand on the issues of torture and habeas corpus.
Performers and speakers will also call for the audience to take part in a Day of Action on June 26 on Capitol Hill. to restore law and justice.
The Day of Action is being sponsored by various organizations, including the ACLU, AIUSA and HHC.
Tickets for the concert are $10 and are available at www.tickets.com or the 9:30 Club box office.
For details, visit www.hiphopforhabeas.org and http://www.juneaction.org