Ya love to see it — extreme music fans coming together to not only help immigrants during a particularly fraught moment in American history, but also to buy some cool merch at the same time. Late last month, hardcore act Drain released an anti-ICE shirt with the intent of raising money for the nonprofit organization Community Foundation Santa Cruz County (CFSCC). Well, the donation was completed and a nearly $40,000 check was hand delivered to the group.
News of the donation came about when the CFSCC posted that Drain vocalist Sammy Ciaramitaro personally hand-delivered a check totaling $39,955. That money will go directly to the organization’s Supporting Immigrants In Santa Cruz County Fund.
Ciaramitaro said he was happy that the band was able to do something to counter ICE’s Gestapo-esque raids and help folks that find themselves trapped by an oppressive, fascist regime.
“I’m thankful I live in a place with helpful people where I can just drop off a check. There aren’t many places that can do this.”
In total, the band sold about 2,000 shirts in a weekend, with the design being an exclusive run only for the donation drive. Drain said the shirts will be heading out to fans by the end of the week before they head out on tour with No Pressure, Haywire, and Secret World.
Though Drain aren’t the only band to do something like this, I’m willing to bet they won’t be the last, so long as ICE continues to trample on the Constitution at the behest of El Trumpito.