Woody Guthrie’s family tells Missouri Senator Josh Hawley to stop using his lyrics

Here is Daniel Desrochers at The Kansas City Star:

Sen. Josh Hawley referenced Woody Guthrie last week when he sponsored a bill to prevent people associated with the Chinese Communist Party from owning U.S. farmland and called it the “This Land is Our Land Act.” But the family of one of America’s most revered folk singers wasn’t exactly thrilled. Nora Guthrie, Woody’s daughter, said it’s not uncommon for politicians to make use of “This Land is Your Land” because the song advocates for democratic representation. She said she didn’t mind the song being used politically, as long as it aligns with the song’s values. “In this particular case, the co-opting or parodying of the lyric by those not aligned with Woody’s lyrics – i.e. misrepresentation by autocrats, racists, white nationalists, anti-labor, insurrectionists, etc. – is not condoned,” Guthrie wrote in an email. “We do not consider Josh Hawley in any way a representative of Woody’s values therefore we would never endorse or approve of his reference to Woody’s lyrics.”

Read the rest here.

The “This Land is Our Land Act” will:

• Prohibit Chinese corporations and individuals affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party from acquiring or leasing United States agricultural land.
   
• Require Chinese corporations and individuals affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party to divest ownership of United States agricultural land within two years.
   
• Establish civil fines and criminal penalties for noncompliance, including forfeiture.

Learn more about the bill here.

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