A reggae singer whose song lyrics call for the murder of gays is finding some bumps in the road on his planned Florida tour. Following the grassroots efforts of a number of individuals and advocacy groups around the state, Buju Banton’s concerts scheduled for the Hard Rock in Orlando and The Ritz in Ybor City are now cancelled.
This effort is part of a national campaign, as promoters and venues across the country are calling off Banton’s shows. His song “Boom Bye Bye” contains lyrics inciting the torture and mureder of gay men with acid and submachine guns. In 2004, Banton was charged in an incident where as part of a group, he allegedly beat six men thought to be gay, but a judge later dismissed the charges for lack of evidence.
There are still two Florida venues that have not cancelled Banton’s concerts. Plush 845 in Jacksonville and the James L. Knight Center are still scheduled to host shows in October.
According to Equality Florida, here is the show and venue information:
Jacksonville, FL
Buju October 29, 2009, 8:00 PM at Plush, Jacksonville, Florida
Cost: $30
Plush 845
University Blvd N
Jacksonville, FL 32211-9224
(904) 743-1845
Tom Fisher, Marketing Director
904.743.1845
Miami, FL
Raggae Bash 2009
Performing: Buju Banton, Beenie Man & Wayne Wonder!
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: James L. Knight Center
http://www.jlkc.com/
Lorenzo Muniz, General Manager
lmuniz@jlkc.com
305.416.5974
Advocacy groups are asking people to contact those venues and encourage them to cancel Banton’s shows.
