Tom Morello has launched a memorial project in honour of his late mother Mary, who died earlier this month at the age of 102.
The Rage Against The Machine guitarist announced the Mary Morello Memorial Project on Monday (July 20), eight days after confirming her death by writing that she would be “forever with the Rebels of Light & Song”.
Explaining the impetus behind the new project, Morello has said: “The Morello Family invites friends, family, and all those whose lives were touched by Mary Morello to honor her memory by helping to keep her legacy of compassion, courage and service alive.”
“Donations to the Mary Morello Memorial Project will support organizations that were deeply meaningful to Mary throughout her life, and reflect the causes she passionately believed in and was proud to work alongside.”
The project will raise funds in support of the UFW Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, The Midnight Mission, Jail Guitar Doors, Orphans Of The Storm, All Chicago, Corazón for Cuba, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Center For Native American Youth, with more organisations potentially set to be added in the future. Donations can be made here.
As well as asking for financial support, the Morello family encouraged people to take direct action before October 1, which would have been Mary’s 103rd birthday.
“We also invite you to ‘do as Mary did’, and engage first hand in CARING, SERVICE & ACTION,” Morello continued. “Between now and Oct. 1st […] get out there and DO SOMETHING: volunteer, protest, speak up, speak out, walk a picket line, do political art & music, and help those in need in your community.”
Participants have been invited to share their efforts on Instagram and tag @MaryMorelloMemorialProject, “so as a community we can continue Mary’s work for peace, equality and justice”.
Mary was a teacher and lifelong activist whose work spanned more than seven decades. She fiercely opposed Jim Crow laws, aided anti-colonial movements in Africa, supported several trade unions, and spoke out against apartheid, helping to instil the political consciousness that later became central to her son’s music and activism.
The news of her passing followed Morello cancelling a series of UK and European appearances so that he could return home and help care for her.
Elsewhere, the guitarist recently teamed up with System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian and his son Roman Morello for the single ‘Adjourn It’.
He is also due to host the one-day Power To The People festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on October 3. Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters and Joan Baez are among the artists set to appear.
Speaking to NME in 2024 about music’s ability to inspire political change, Morello said: “Nobody wants to hear a college lecture with a beat to it, there has to be an artistry there and an authenticity and a power and a chemistry behind it.”
