Punk Guitarist Arrested in Protest

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) _ Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and other anti-sweatshop protesters targeting clothing maker Guess? were arrested for blocking the entrance to a shopping mall.

Thirty-three people were taken into custody and given misdemeanor citations Saturday after leaving an approved demonstration site to block doors into the Santa Monica Place mall.

The protest, attended by 200-300 people, was over the apparel maker’s alleged use of sweatshop labor and union-busting actions. Last month, the National Labor Relations Board issued a formal complaint against Guess? Inc.

Help from Morello and Rage Against the Machine led to the demonstration’s success, said Hillary Horn, spokeswoman for the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, which organized the protest.

``The band’s involvement has been a boost to the campaign because Guess has been trying to market their clothes to the same type of people who listen to their music,″ Horn said. ``It’s a great way to get the message to young people before they do their holiday shopping.″