May 31st We March
A peaceful protest will be taking place in London this coming Saturday to highlight that My Chemical Romance is not a ‘suicide cult’ - as they have been recently dubbed in the English media - but in fact a band that ‘wants to save your life.’ So far the press release for the details of the march has been as follows:
There will be a protest held in Hyde Park, on May 31st 2008, from 10am until 10pm. This protest is being held in order to raise awareness on My Chemical Romance’s acutely anti-suicide message and the serious issue of depression, especially in teenagers. A turnout of over 250 people is currently confirmed, predicted to at least double.
This is a peaceful protest in honour of US rock band, My Chemical Romance. Hundreds of fans will gather with one motive, to unite. We hope to show that My Chemical Romance is not a ‘suicide cult’ - as the Daily Mail has called them in a recent article - but simply a rock band that wants to save people’s lives. Depression is a serious thing and careless journalism runs the risk of trivializing it; especially as far as teenage depression is concerned. My Chemical Romance have always tried to ward their fans away from depression and aid them in seeking help, even going as far as to call suicide hotline numbers from the stage. Whereas, badly researched journalism is in danger of promoting irresponsible stereotyping and taking away from depression as a serious medical illness.
Many My Chemical Romance fans can be quoted saying, "MCR saved my life." Through their work and messages sent to the fans to look after themselves and love life, they help much of their fan base to survive depression. The Daily Mail condemns them to the opposite of this, backing their claims up with misquoted, out-of-context lyrics; avoiding lyrics such as, "I am not afraid to keep on living," from the song "Famous Last Words." Nor do they pick up on quotes such as the following, said by Gerard Way multiple times on their recent world tour, "If you find yourself depressed, hurt, like an outcast or feel that the only place you can fit in is at a show like this, that's not the case. We all do belong in this world and we all have a place in this world." On their DVD, released back in the Revenge era and widely adored amongst fans, the following message is spoken only minutes into the two-hour long clip; "We're definitely a band that wants to save your life."
There has also been some recent confusion as to what site is the authentic site for the protest, we can confirm that whatthefrank.co.uk (two T's, not one) is the official site with key information about the protest. However there is a duplicate site that has formulated which eerily mimics the genuine whatthefrank.co.uk. Please make sure you are on the correct site before adding your name to the list pledging that you will be present at the protest. Moreover this fraudulent site has spawned awful rumours of mass suicide which is of course is false. The protest will be conducted in a peaceful and respectful manner.
this is awesome. i hope many will show up or many did show up.
i wish i could be there to show ,y support and smpathy, but i wasn't able since i live in norway.
my thoughts on the other had, went to mcr. :] <3
the used., May 31st, 2008 at 09:47:12pm
I reckon this whole "MCR saves lives" idea is a load of bullsh*t. Everyone who says that they did: unless they pull you out of the way of a bus, or personally come to you and talk you out of slitting your throat, they didn't save your life.
Give yourselves some credit. You yourselves saved you own lives. Maybe MCR inspired you to not kill yourselves, but ultimately it was you who didn't pull the trigger or tie the rope.
And now I can see the angry responses.
I am bipolar, and I have suicidal thoughts frequently. Listening to MCR's more uplifting songs is very helpful (along with other bands). But I don't say they saved my life, because in the end I saved my own life. And so did all of you.
Lounge Fly, May 31st, 2008 at 06:56:56pm
This suicide cult bull is a load of sh*t man.
this sux. i cant go 2 the protest.
The people that are saying this don't even listen 2 MCR so
wat the hell?
My Chemical Romance tries to help people, i mean come on, they friggin saved and made my life.
How can this be a friggin death or suicide cult? Gerard Way himself has even said that he is through with the emo crap, and that he does not want himself or his band to be labeled as emo. I can't believe these people, telling us that MCR is trying to persuade us into thinking suicidal thoughts.
I wish they could understand.
I live in CA, so I can't come, though i ttly wish that i could.
I am there in mind and spirit....
pleeze, if u are there righ now.... post pics.
i need to be there as much as i can be.
without MCR i dunno wat i would do or how i would live.
I don't remember a time when I didn't luv this band.
That's how important they are to me...
I FREAKIN LUV YOU GUYS!!!!
EmoLuvr1408, May 31st, 2008 at 06:56:53pm
I agree to you below me.
And to shadow_66,
They are saying something you know. Sure, it may not do much but it will say to people that they support My Chemical Romance and they are proud for being a patient of their music that saved their lives. And obviously for the protest, they are saying that MCR saves lives and that they are not a 'suicide cult'. And by wearing MCR clothes and stuff, they're saying, 'Hey, I'm proud to be a patient of MCR,' or 'I'm proud to be a MCR fan,' and they're supporting them because, hey, they saved their freakin lives.
I also think that the songs that are suicidal songs, the ones that are in the perspective of a suicidal person, are showing people what they go through and they're also, in a way, warning people who have no experience of depression and stuff that this is what they go through and they're also maybe encouraging those to help others who are depressed.
Black Presicion, May 31st, 2008 at 06:13:00pm
shadow_666,
I did listen to you. And much of your comment was convinsing.
But this protest is a good step. Maybe you dodn't agree but all are so eager to make this work.
And yeah, we all wear mychem stuff not caring what others may think.
Becaus Mychem are not emo. They will never be.
Cherokee, May 31st, 2008 at 02:24:03pm
arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i hope everything is alright!!!!
listen to your heart, May 31st, 2008 at 09:16:07am
a death cult?!?!?!? wtf? wish i wuz there have fun guyz!!!!!!!!
tay jardine;, May 31st, 2008 at 08:41:17am
Good luck to everyone who is there today. Wish I was there with you guys.
I really hope that things go well for you. Hope nobody at all causes any trouble, because you guys don't deserve it. : )
xxx
Green Faerie, May 31st, 2008 at 07:11:02am
I'll be walking in my living room since i live in australia
YOU TELL"EM!!!! GOOD LUCK GUYS!!!!!!!
Bunny Marie Way, May 31st, 2008 at 06:06:57am
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE WHO'S THERE!!!
The protest has started now and i so wish i was there
Pistol_GeeBucks, May 31st, 2008 at 05:22:05am
Finally someone has realised that My Chem aren't supporting suicide
x.gerard.way.is.hawt, May 31st, 2008 at 01:55:25am
I doubted anyone would listen to me, and it looks like I'm right. You guys who are marching or protesting aren't helping MCR. Why? Because no one will listen to you. It sounds harsh, but its the truth. It's just an excuse for the media to run articles on spoilt teenagers, metalheads to do some emo bashing and yobs to have a fight. The best way you can help MCR is to wear your MCR merchandise and show the world you don't give a f*ck what they think. Protesting won't help matters at all.
Lounge Fly, May 31st, 2008 at 01:15:27am
I'm just surprised they blamed My Chem for her death and not the band with her name in it called "Kill Hannah". The title of the band would've made that band an easier target to blame. But on the issue of MCR, they've already put a message out on their site addressing the issue and expressing how they feel bad for the girl's death and how they are sorry for how her parents had to go through that kind of thing with their daughter. I love MCR personally. They have saved my life, inspired my music, have been the inspiration for all my songs, and they are a HUGE part of my life! I wish I lived in London but as many of the people who have replied, I live in the U.S. :(
However, I have written a song to protest, and I will definitely protest with my heart and soul where I live along with my friends who have been saved by MCR as well. Good luck to all the U.K. fans who will protest for our heroes and their fans!
MCR 4EVR!!! :)
Kitty Clover, May 31st, 2008 at 12:32:44am
finally! a protest! how i wish i am living in London! i should be in the protest too!
I'm A Bullet.I Kill!, May 31st, 2008 at 12:08:09am
I think this is great wat is being done. Only problem is I live in the US lol. I hopr there's a huge turnout and everything stays peaceful.
Harlequinn, May 30th, 2008 at 07:47:04pm