Met Police criticised for allowing gay hate concert
The Metropolitan Police have allowed a concert by artist Bounty Killer to go ahead, despite his lyrics inciting homophobic hatred and violence.
The Jamaican reggae and dancehall DJ, born Rodney Price, has already had two concerts cancelled in Bradford and Birmingham following protests by the gay human rights group OutRage!
The Met have previously stated that artists would not be allowed to perform unless they sign the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA), which prohibits the performance of any music that encourages or glorifies any form of violence.
Yet despite his refusal to sign the document, the 36-year old was permitted to go ahead with his performance last week at the Stratford Rex Centre in east London.
PinkNews.co.uk contacted the Met police for a comment, but they have yet to respond.
Peter Tatchell of OutRage! who coordinated the British concert cancellation campaign said:
“The police seem to be letting Bounty Killer off the hook.
“Police claims that they are cracking down on homophobic hate crimes now look like a public relations stunt at the expense of the lesbian and gay community.
“A white racist singer who advocated killing black people would not be allowed to perform anywhere in London, even if he agreed not to incite the killing of black people at his concert.
“Yet when it comes to straight homophobic singers who urge the murder of gay people, the police adopt a softer stance. Why the double standards?”
Price, who was brought up in Kingston, Jamaica, became a household name in Jamaica in the early 90s, and later became known in the USA and Europe after collaborating with the Fugees, Wyclef Jean and No Doubt.
In 2003, he cancelled two of his concerts in the UK, fearing he would be arrested for the homophobic content of his songs.
Price’s lyrics include the lines “You know we need no promo to rub out dem homo” and “Mi ready fi go wipe out this fag”, which encourage the murder of homosexuals.
Gay rights activists have now launched a European campaign to halt his “Deadly Alliance” tour of the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland, and a performance in Essen, Germany has already been cancelled.
Footage of the concert is now on YouTube.
