Asian-American rock band “The Slants” released a new song about its case that is scheduled to be argued before the Supreme Court next month.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the band a trademark on its name, having decided “The Slants” was offensive. The band has fought the denial all the way to the high court and released a song about the Lee v. Tam case on Wednesday titled, “From the Heart,” which can be purchased from Microsoft.
“There’s no room / for your backwards dealings / and backyard dealings / we’re never gonna settle, never gonna settle,” the band sings.
The band plans to play in Washington at the Electric Maid Community Exchange, at 7 p.m. Jan. 17, the night before oral arguments begin in its case. A post on the band’s crowdfunding site to solicit donations to help its case suggests the band may be planning other events as well.
“Many of us highly doubt that free speech and protecting communities of color will improve under a Trump presidency — his campaign was filled with xenophobia, misogyny and racism,” wrote band member Simon Tam on the site. “So, a protest rally will be even more important for this case.”
The outcome of the band’s case is intrinsically tied to the fate of the Washington Redskins’ fight against the federal government’s decision to cancel the National Football League team’s trademark. Both the band and the team have argued that a federal law barring trademarks on racial slurs violates the First Amendment.
A victory for the band before the high court likely would mean a win for the Redskins. A loss for the band, however, does not mean that the Redskins’ hopes of winning its fight against the government would end.
