U2 France

by Michael Gilmour

During the 2011 leg of U2’s 360 tour, Burmese activist, author, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1991) and long-time political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi greeted audiences by video, thanking them for their support. Aung San Suu Kyi has fought tirelessly for human rights and the restoration of democracy in Myanmar (formerly Burma) through non-violent activism. She founded the National League for Democracy and her struggle frequently raised the ire of the military government of Myanmar, which placed her under almost continuous house arrest from 1989 through to November 2010. Her video greeting at concerts was truly remarkable (I was at two of the shows, Winnipeg and Minneapolis) and its significance was not lost on U2 fans. The band has long supported Aung San Suu Kyi and Amnesty International, reminding their audiences of her story and the plight of the people of Burma. Earlier in the 360 tour, U2 even encouraged fans to wear masks with her image as a gesture of solidarity and as an act of protest against the military dictatorship intent on keeping her silent.

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