The indie rock group Black Rebel Motorcycle Club called out the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a cease and desist letter, saying it is "obvious" the agency does not respect copyright law let alone constitutional rights and protections after using the band's song "God's Gonna Cut You Down" in a "propaganda video."
DHS used a Johnny Cash cover of "God's Gonna Cut You Down" as a backdrop for a cinematic video that depicts a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent reciting Bible verses while other agents conduct immigration raids under cover of darkness.
At one point, the agent narrates:
“There’s a Bible verse I think about sometimes. Many times. It goes, ‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’”
You can see the video below.
Shortly after the video went viral, the band responded with the following message admonishing the agency for using the song without the band's consent:
"It has come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security is improperly using our recording of 'God’s Gonna Cut You Down' in your latest propaganda video."
"It’s obvious that you don’t respect Copyright Law and Artist Rights any more than you respect Habeas Corpus and Due Process rights, not to mention the separation of Church and State per the US Constitution."
"For the record, we hereby order @dhsgov to cease and desist the use of our recording and demand that you immediately pull down your video. Oh, and go f... yourselves."
You can see the band's post below.
Many praised the band for speaking out.
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DHS was called out last week by pastor and author Zach W. Lambert, who said the video served as an example of how the agency is twisting Scripture to suit the Trump administration's ends where its immigration crackdown is concerned.
Lambert noted that "using Bible verses to justify violence against immigrants is not only the opposite of what Jesus teaches, it’s also a direct contradiction to the passage cited in this video."
He pointed out that the prophet Isaiah had been called by God to condemn "corrupt and rebellious leaders," words for "those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
