El Paso musician Jim Ward is speaking out after music from his band, Sparta, appeared in a video posted to the El Paso Sector Border Patrol social media pages.
The video, posted on March 16, shows a controlled blast along the border near Mt. Cristo Rey, the blast making way for “vital infrastructure” that is meant to “strengthen national security,” the caption to the video reads. As the ground erupts and the dust rises, Sparta’s “Air” plays in the background, a popular alternative rock band fronted by Ward.
Ward quickly slammed the Border Patrol for using Sparta’s music and shared a statement on Instagram.
“I’m not going to repost it or give it any attention but please know we are aware of our song being used in a border wall propaganda video and we are working on having it removed. You know we are absolutely appalled.” Ward’s post said.
Ward also commented on the Border Patrol post and wrote, “Remove our song- we want nothing to do with this.”
The El Paso Times reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment.
The Border Patrol video was still up as of 7 a.m. on March 17.
The controlled blasts come as construction is underway along the Mexico–U.S. border near Sunland Park, N.M. A social media post in January from the Juárez municipal government alerted residents that dynamite blasts would take place near the Anapra border area, but clarified that the work is occurring on the U.S. side.
Ward has been vocal about border wall
In a November 2018 interview with the El Paso Times, Ward said he is always creating, whether it’s music or collaborating on other projects. In 2018, he worked with The Chamanas and Kiko Rodriguez on a song called, “If you Build it, We Will Break it,” in direct response to the wall being erected on the border by the Trump administration.
He has been vocal about his political views and says the wall song is about how El Paso and Juárez can’t be separated because their communities are intertwined. He said it’s an invitation for people to know about the border without banging a fist.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on x; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Jim Ward slams Border Patrol over music use in ‘propaganda’ video
Reporting by Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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