Troubled by the treatment of migrants under the Trump administration, five Vermont musicians have recorded a version of Woody Guthrie’s “Plane Wreck At Los Gatos (Deportee).”
A video of this live performance launched on YouTube (https://youtu.be/PNlsjbEcC4k) on November 22, with the song available for purchase on Bandcamp (https://rayfork.bandcamp.com/track/plane-wreck-at-los-gatos-deportee).
One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to two organizations working to protect migrant rights, the Vermont Immigrant Legal Defense Fund and No Más Muertes (No More Deaths). Purchasing the song on Bandcamp Friday, December 5, will send even more money to these agencies, spokesperson Kate Youngdahl Stauss said.
Ray Fork and his Knives (Raph Worrick, Jane Boxall, Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski and Kevin Stevens) recorded the song live with Roger Stauss at The Pantry studio in Granville, hewing closely to Guthrie’s full original lyrics. The song stemmed from his hearing news stories about the crash of a 1948 deportation flight in which 28 Mexican migrant workers were killed. In the news the only names listed were of the American crew, with the migrants simply referred to as “deportees.” The Hispanic victims, mostly unidentified at the time, were buried in a mass grave simply labeled “Mexican Nationals.” Guthrie, pained by the dehumanization of these workers, wrote the lyrics that were later set to music by Martin Hoffman.
“From Los Gatos to Granville, for nearly a century, artists and musicians have carried the stories of those too often forgotten – and that is a gift to our democracy,” said state treasurer Mike Pieciak, founder of the Vermont Immigrant Legal Defense Fund (VILDF). “Here in Vermont, we are coming together to ensure every neighbor receives the fairness and due process they deserve. These aren’t abstract ideals. They are what keep our democracy alive.”
The VILDF was established to provide legal support to those caught up in raids by ICE and CBP in Vermont. The Defense Fund seeks to raise $1 million to strengthen immigration legal defense in Vermont. Every individual, regardless of where they come from, should have access to the high-quality legal support necessary to protect their rights and seek a better future. For details, see https://www.vermontlegaldefensefund.com.
No More Deaths (https://nomoredeaths.org/en/) works to provide direct emergency food, medical and other aid to migrants crossing the deserts in Arizona, as well as witnessing and documenting abusive practices.
By some estimates, migrant workers are involved in the production of 85% of U.S. dairy products, and more than 60% of all U.S. agricultural output.
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