Raul Malo, singer and frontman of The Mavericks, proved his fearlessness during his cancer battle. He continued performing and also standing up to the country’s aggressive immigration policies while ill.
The songwriter provided extensive commentary on his immigration views during his health battles, which also included an extreme sinus infection and large hernia, in addition to colon surgery on top of the cancer.
Raul Malo called out those wanting to “inflict cruelty and suffering” before he died
On July 4, Raul posted on his Facebook page, “Dear America, today is the day we celebrate you and what you used to stand for. The words ‘liberty and justice for all’ have faded into a distant past. To some of us those words were deeply personal. My family came here because of those words. I was born here because of those words. I have had an extraordinary life because of those words. And now those words have lost their meaning. They are now abstract concepts used to inflict cruelty and suffering on the unsuspecting, the weak, the sick, the poor, the needy. We can add Purple Heart war veterans to that list as several have been deported already. This is America right now.”
“Some will tell me that I should leave the country or my favorite ‘shut up and sing (A statement so void of any sense that it is impossible to execute),’” he continued. “On the ‘leaving’ part … that may come true whether I want to leave or not. The way the new law stands my mother could be stripped of her naturalized citizenship, then my sister and I would be illegal birthright citizens and away we go. As far as ‘shut up and sing’ well, clearly that’s not happening. You see the thing is this is my country too. Always has been. My country has been that beacon on the hill for so long and for so many.”
He then continued that “this isn’t about politics anymore. It’s about humanity. It’s about all of us. We, the people. Happy Birthday America!”
After a CAT scan, Raul had surgery to remove a liver tumor on December 10, 2024. The singer announced his diagnosis last June via an Instagram video. He received clear PET scans as early as last March, but lost his cancer battle on December 8 at the age of 59.
TELL US – WAS RAUL AT RISK OF BEING DEPORTED?
