Tom Morello, former guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, is living up to his ex-band’s name by threatening to run for mayor against Rahm Emanuel.
Morello says Emanuel canceled the permit for a May 18 National Nurses United rally after he was added to the bill. The group originally had permission to march to Daley Plaza but was told to move to Petrillo Music Shell “to accommodate changes to your event, including a performance by a nationally known musician and a significantly increased number of expected attendees.”
Morello raged against Emanuel to Rolling Stone magazine.
“Chicago is my hometown and the mayor is making me feel mighty unwelcome,” he said. “I don’t care what they say or do, I’m coming to rock out and speak my mind. We won't be silenced and we won't be stopped. If Rahm Emanuel is so afraid of my popularity in Chicago maybe I should run against him in the next election. See you in the streets.”
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Morello actually grew up in Libertyville, but his background is similar to the only Chicago politician more formidable than Emanuel. The son of an American mother and a Kenyan father who abandoned him as an infant, he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in social studies.
Morello lives in California, but the next mayoral election is not until 2015, so he has plenty of time to move here and establish residency.
