The Proletariat were active in the Boston hardcore scene between 1980-85. Within the punk community they built a reputation for their explosive live shows and left-wing political lyrics.
After a three decade hiatus the band reformed in 2016 and on May 18, 2018 the band is releasing a new EP, The Murder of Alton Sterling. The title track deals with the shooting of a 37-year-old black man, Alton Sterling, who on July 5, 2016 was murdered by two police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The police officers involved never faced charges. In under two blistering minutes the tune is a scathing expose of racism and injustice.