Prosecution of reggae artists who incite homophobic assaults and murder



		The OutRage! website seems to be closed definitively for unknown reasons. While doing my research, it was sometimes opperative but most of the time it was not in function. Maybe the work of hackers or simply a condition to the February 2005 deal reached within the dancehall industry and gay organisations. In any cases, this is the way the text originally appered on their webpage.
		Prosecution of reggae artists who incite homophobic assaults and murder Peter Tatchell September 18, 2003 Original link for this article: LINK Dear Commander Steve Allen, Prosecution of reggae artists who incite homophobic assaults and murder The lesbian and gay human rights group OutRage! welcomes the commitment made by the Crown Prosecution Service in February, and by the Metropolitan Police in April, to crack down on homophobic hate crimes. We therefore hope you will act swiftly and decisively to arrest and bring charges against reggae singers Elephant Man, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. The lyrics of several of their songs variously abuse, menace and threaten lesbians and gays; goad and glorify the beating, shooting and burning of homosexuals; and incite acts of homophobic asault and murder. These songs are available in or via many high street record stores and websites. Details of these singer?s violent, threatening anti-gay lyrics follow below, together with their record company information. Urgent action is required. These three singers have been nominated as the ?Best Reggae Act? at the MOBO Awards ceremony in London, which is being held at the Royal Albert Hall on 25 September 2003. If they travel to London to attend the MOBO Awards, we urge you to arrest and charge them. If they do not attend the MOBOS, we urge you to liaise with the Jamaican police to secure their arrest and prosecution ? either in the Jamaican courts or, via an arrest warrant and extradition order, in the courts of this country. Our primary objection is not to the general homophobic tone of these singer?s songs ? though such bigoted attitudes are, indeed, lamentable ? but to their specific, explicit encouragement of violent attacks on lesbians and gay men. In a democratic society people have a right to criticise homosexuality. This right does not, however, include advocating queer-bashing violence and murder. There are at least three possible charges that could be bought against the three singers: They could be prosecuted under Sections 4 or 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, or under the common law offence of incitement to violence and murder, or under Section 4 of the Offences Against The Person Act 1861. 1) According to Section 4 (1) (a), a person is guilty of a criminal offence if he "uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour?whereby that person is likely to believe that such violence will be used or it is likely that such violence will be provoked". And according to Section 5 (1) (a) of the same Act, a person is guilty of a criminal offence if he "uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour?within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby". 2) According to the common law offence of incitement, a person is guilty of a criminal offence if he encourages, advocates or urges any violent act - including assault or murder - against another person. 3) According to Section 4 - the solicitation to murder clause - of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 it is a crime to advocate, incite, encourage or promote acts of murder. It was under this clause that the Muslim cleric, Abdullah el-Faisal was convicted at the Old Bailey on 24 February 2003 of soliciting the murder of Jews, Hindus, Americans and non-believers. He was convicted even though neither a prospective assailant nor a prospective victim was identified. This precedent demonstrates that general threats made against groups of people can be successfully prosecuted under UK law. We also believe the charges should be bought against those who disseminate songs advocating homophobic violence: The record companies and retailers who produce and distribute these incitements to assault and murder could be prosecuted under the above laws or under the common law offences of conspiracy and aiding and abetting the commission of the afore-mentioned crimes. In an Oral Answer to Lord Avebury on 18 December 2002, Lord Falconer, then Solicitor-General, stated his legal opinion: ?To solicit or incite another to commit a crime (through, for example, homophobic song lyrics) is indictable under common law, even if the solicitation or incitement has no effect. Therefore a crime would not actually need to be committed to convict people of incitement to violence against homosexual people?. The Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, concurs. He responded to a letter from Lord Avebury concerning the possibility of prosecuting reggae singers who incite violence against lesbians and gay men. His reply, dated 16 December 2002, advised of the possibility of charges under the public order laws and the legislation against threats and incitement to kill. The authority of these two most senior legal officers in the land suggests that there is, indeed, a legitimate and compelling case for charges and proceedings to commence. Note: Batty man and chi chi man are abusive, insulting Jamaican slang words used to denigrate gay men. They are the equivalent of pejorative words like queer, faggot, poof and bender. Bun means burn in patiois. These tracks and albums are available for purchase online via www.amazon.co.uk - which is where we found the publishing details. Some of the tracks are available on the shelves at HMV and Virgin record stores in central London, or can be ordered via these stores. The action we seek from the Metropolitan Police: We request the Metropolitan Police to arrest and bring charges of incitement to violence, and/or incitement to murder, and /or solicitation to murder, and/or public disorder through the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words, and/or conspiracy to threaten, assault or murder. These charges should be laid variously against the following persons and/or businesses (where necessary, in cooperation with your counterparts in the Jamaican police service): 1) The singers: Elephant Man, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man 2) The record labels: Artists Only Records, VP, Octave, Greensleeves, Shanachie, Jet Star and Tvt 3) The record retailers: Amazon, HMV and Virgin We would appreciate your consideration and response at the earliest opportunity. Yours sincerely, Peter Tatchell OutRage! ? campaigning for lesbian and gay human rights Lyrics and record details Artist: Bounty Killer with Baby Cham Song: Another Level Album: Wow... The Story (Baby Cham) Audio CD (October 24, 2000) Original Release Date: October 24, 2000 Label: Artists Only Records ASIN: B000050HYI Excerpt Bun a fire pon a kuh pon mister fagoty (Uh huh) Cocky deh yah suh fi wheel unda Dorothy (Uh huh) Ears ah ben up and a wince under agony Poop man fi drown a dat a yawd man philosophy (Uh huh) See more details at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000050HYI/qid%3D1063315190/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-4047661-1710415 Artist: Bounty Killer Song: Look Good (track 7) Album: Ghetto Dictionary: Art of War Audio CD (May 28, 2002) Label: V.P. Records ASIN: B0000633G9 Excerpt "wipe out the faggot with a pure laser beam" The album can be bought from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000633G9/ref=m_art_li_8/002-4047661-1710415?v=glance&s=music It can also be bought from the HMV website To view Bounty Killer?s lyrics in full see: http://raddy73.tripod.com/lyrics/bounty.html Artist: Beenie Man Song: Badman Chi Chi Man Album Where's the Party at 2k2 (Various Artists) Audio CD (2 September, 2002) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Octave ASIN: B00006CFK2 Catalogue Number: BELEF002CD Artist: Beenie Man Album: Greensleeves Rhythm Album Vol.23 (Various Artists) Audio CD (11 March, 2002) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Greensleeves ASIN: B0000631AP Catalogue Number: 36017232 Excerpt Chorus: If yuh nuh chi chi man wave yuh right hand and (NO!!!) If yuh nuh lesbian wave yuh right hand and (NO!!!) Some bwoy will go a jail fi kill man tun bad man chi chi man!!! Zagga zow, and mi sex off Mona, Lisa and (NO!!!) And mi breed off Keisha, Lisa, and (NO!!!) Some bwoy will go a jail fi murda tun badman chi chi man!!! Verse 1: Like for instance, Miss Ivey likkle wash belly one deh Who mi a talk now di long mout one deh Di pants song I called man chi chi man When mi see him inna video wid a naked man (What!!!) So mi know seh oonu DJ a fraud (Fraud dem!!!) Yuh by yuh civic and mi buy mi accord Inna cruise a crash a now pon PG's garage Yet still yuh a chase like you all a wear draws Tell mi, sumfest it should a be a showdown Yuh seem to run off a stage like a clown (Kill Dem DJ!!!) But anytime mi buck again yuh must lose yuh crown Cause this a one DJ yuh caan throw down cau Artist: Beenie Man Song: Damn Album: Ruffkut Reggae Mix (Various Artists) Audio CD (6 November, 2000) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Shanachie ASIN: B00004Y9WY Catalogue Number: SHANCD45047 Artist: Beenie Man Album: Strictly the Best Vol. 25 (Various Artists) Audio CD (27 November, 2000) Number of Discs: 1 Label: VP Records ASIN: B0000508EN Catalogue Number: VP16192 Excerpt ?I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays? Artist: Elephant Man Song: Log on Album: Log on Audio CD (12 November, 2001) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Greensleeves ASIN: B00005QEBN Catalogue Number: 36012662 Excerpt Chorus: Log on, and step pon chi chi man. Log on from yu know seh yu nuh ickie man. Log on and step pon chi chi man. Dance wi a dance and a bun out a freaky man. Verse1: Bout boss a who da bredda could and a talk. Gimme pass, yuh nuh si a dis ya dance di people dem want. Step pon him like a old cloth. A dance wi a dance and a crush out dem... Bun blast yuh scare yuh ca bus di new dance. Do di walk mi see the light and di torch dem fass. Jeremy come help me do di brand new dance. Verse 3: All right see it chi chi man cah stop da one ya from dweet. Wake up inna di wrong bed yuh a sleep. Yuh nuh see di gal dem contract yuh a breach. Future run him down di bwoy fi get beat. Caan pass Spanish town on princess street Bare rat-a-tat di shotta dem would and a beat. Jeremy tun up di music inna di street Dis yah new dance a run di place. Artist: Elephant Man Song: A Nuh Fi Wi Fault Album: Reggae Hits Vol.24 (Various Artists) Audio CD (30 November, 1998) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Jet Star ASIN: B0000253YX Catalogue Number: JECD1024 Excerpt Intro: Badman nuh inna nuh explanation no more Anyway we hold dem bwoy dem get A yo, all yuh hear me Tivali jungle Rise all da ting dem yah man? A nuh fi wi fault If a battybwoy run inna we gun A nuh fi wi fault The pussy dem get shot down A nuh fi wi fault When fadda get boom down Sodom A nuh fi wi fault? Dem find battyman we don't play A nuh fi wi fault Along time deh fassy dem a dead? When yuh hear a Sodomite get raped But a fi wi fault? Long time we ah warn dem anna obverse Battyman fi dead! Please mark we word Gimme tha tech-nine Shoot dem like bird Dis a wha ????? man heard A nuh fi wi fault Jamaican don't like gay A nuh fi wi fault Ah same way Miami man stay A nuh fi wi fault?. We nah keep battman friend ???????? Badman nah par wid men ???????? Shotta just rise your Mack Ten ???????? ???????? A! A nuh fi wi fault When two men ??????? A nuh fi wi fault Big nife a cut off dem ?? A nuh fi wi fault Den me throw away deh head in deh boat A nuh fi wi fault A nuh fi wi fault A nuh fi wi A nuh fi wi fault Jamaican don't like gay A nuh fi wi fault?. Its wrong Two woman gonna hock up inna bed Thats two Sodomites dat fi dead A nuh fi wi fault Battybwoy run inna me gun A nuh fi wi fault Coz tha fassy dem get shot down A nuh fi wi fault When Father got boom down Sodom A nuh fi wi fault A nuh fi wi fault A nuh fi wi A nuh fi wi fault Dem find battyman we don't play A nuh fi wi fault A long time that fassy dem ah dead A nuh fi wi fault Ah dem make de syphilis a spread A nuh fi wi fault A nuh fi wi fault A! den Long time we ah warn dem anna observe Battyman fi dead! Please mark we word Gimme the Tech Nine Shoot dem like bird Dis ah Harry Toddler heard But ah fi wi fault When yuh hear ah Sodomite get raped But ah fi wi fault When we ah ???? ah gal inna place But ah fi wi fault?.. Artist: Elephant Man Song: We Nuh Like Gay (aka Nuk Like) Album: Face Off Volume 2 (Various Artists) Audio CD (4 January, 2000) Number of Discs: 1 Label: VP ASIN: B00003OPAA Catalogue Number: VPCD2108 Excerpt Intro: Ayo, Badman nah par wid informer nor gay, Yuh no like dem, Cha, Whatever, A, We nuh like gay, We nuh like gay, No way, We no like gay, Mans start Scare Dem give me the AK, General B. of course, Chorus: We no like gay, we no like gay, Well ah just how Jamaican stay, From you no like battyman well me waan see yuh gun right-away, gunright-away, Cau we bun dem and we run dem, Battyman and badman caan be friend, You nuh like battyman Tivali man juss wave yuh Mack 10, wave yuh Mack, A! Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den! No battybwoy caan come march in ah Kingston City, City, Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den! No battybwoy caan come march pon Christmas Day, juss som-me me, A! Verse 1: Everyday yuh get up and meddle with bauxide, Woman so sweet and ah man go ride, Yuh fi 'member yuh can run but you caan hide, Everyone ah who owna battyship ah go capsize, Battyman fi dead! Tek dem by surprise, Ghetta in shot head, cau me big gun collide, Monster Shack, buss the Glock in thine eyes, Captain Barkey gimme me Tech-9, General B. wid de chrome an waa shine, Harry Toddler shot out ah bugger-man, A! Den! Chorus: We no like gay, we no like gay, Well ah just how Jamaican stay, From you no like battyman well me waan see yuh gun right-away, gun right-away, Cau we bun dem and we run dem, Scare Dem and battyman nah go friend, You nuh like battyman Monster Shack juss wave the Mack 10, wave the Mack, A! Verse 2: Battyman ah fassyhole me know say dem ah midgit inna man, ???????? Man ah fiyah dem rim-it, Battyman waan march, deh wrong crime they woulda commit, Gimme the ????, Bounty Killa ah guh dun it, Gimme the Tech-9, down ah Seaview we bun it, If they come ah fate-man me know dem are gonna run it, Battyman fi dead! Jungle man dem seh spread it, Battyman fi dead! ????man seh see spread it, ???man fi dead! Monster Shack seh see spread it, Why? Cau Scare Dem Crew dun said it, A! Chorus: We no like gay, we no like gay, Well ah just how Jamaican stay, From you no like battyman well me waan see yuh gun right-away, gun right-away, Cau we bun dem and we run dem, Battyman and badman caan be friend, You nuh like battyman Spanish Town juss rise yuh Mack 10, rise yuh Mack, A! Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den! No battybwoy caan come march in ah Kingston City, A!, Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den! No battybwoy caan come march pon Christmas Day, A, Badman nah Verse 3: Me hear something go so zoom, Battybwoy house juss get backa zoomer, bere batty yuh waan, Yuh no waan nuh pom-pom, See gal deh, yuh ah run from pom-pom, Gimme deh gun, lemme shot him boom boom, Don't waan no gal, not even fatty pom-pom, Gimme any gal out deh, Hail peh pom-pom Tracks which do not explicitly incite violence against lesbians and gay men, but which are likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress to lesbian and gay people Artist: Bounty Killer Song: Eagle & Di Hawk Album: Next Millennium Audio CD (November 3, 1998) Original Release Date: November 3, 1998 Label: Tvt ASIN: B00000DF6P Excerpt Boo away some battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surround wi Well bwoy like a mi nuh battyman nah guh crown mi Media and the press a try dem best fi drown wi Cancel mi visa but dat still nuh ground mi Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi The soundclip available for download from the Amazon website is the homophobic verse. See more details at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000DF6P/002-4047661-1710415?v=glance#product-details Artist: Bounty Killer Song: Mr. Wanna Be Album: 5th Element Audio CD (October 19, 1999) Original Release Date: October 19, 1999 Label: Tvt ASIN: B00000JZ26 Excerpt Unu wanna be me! Weh tek dem insect True mi tek Spring Break, si dem a impress Hear this likkle punk guh sing a battyman concept Seh him hood Deanie, a deh suh mi object And him guh pon Mirage, and guh dis-respect bout dem box man a foreign dem nuh tek nuh bet yet Tell dem if dem do dat World War woulda re-flex Yuh lef' Clarendon and come drop ina wasp nest with Guerilla warfare yuh caught mi interest War mi start dat by reservation and request To kill dis yah fool, to me dat is no stress Murder dem fast just like a Federal Express And mi run wild west The soundclip available for download from the Amazon website is the homophobic verse.