Blogging from the Highlands of Scotland
'From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step' - Diderot

Saturday 24 July 2004

'Beenie Man' goes on US tour

A number of UK concerts by this Jamaican rap artist were recently cancelled because of protests by the gay community, supported by advice from the Police that they would endanger public order. Lyrics in many of Beenie Man's songs extol the virtue of killing gays and lesbians. There is, in fact, no 'hate crime' in UK law protecting gays and lesbians, but fortunately we are [like any other citizen] protected from those advocating physical harm, or actually carrying out such physical harm.

Now it is reported that this person is to tour the US and give a series of concerts, probably singing many of the songs for which he has become famous/notorious. I hope that the US authorities will act to prevent him performing those of his songs which advocate violence aganist gays and lesbians. Free speech is one thing, but the incitement of violence surely does not count as legitimate free speech.

UPDATE: (Saturday 24JUL 16.10 BST) With reference to an exchange in the comments section for this post, this is a link to a recent post on 19 July about another Jamaican rap artist who, it is alleged, doesn't just sing about violence against gays and lesbians, but carries it out.

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