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.
		Buju Banton – Concert Protests Outrage! News Service September 8, 2004 Original link for this article: LINK Gay protestors will demonstrate outside the reggae star Buju Banton’s London concert this Sunday, 19 September 2004. Protest organisers are urging members of the lesbian and gay community to join them. “If he came to London and there were no protests, it would be a disaster. Many people may conclude that gays and lesbians don’t care about Banton’s violent homophobic lyrics. A poor turn-out would be a huge victory for the murder-music singers and their promoters,” says Brett Lock, co-coordinator of the Stop Murder Music campaign. “Please don’t leave it to other people! Our whole community needs to stand together,” he added. Gay campaigners are angry that Mr Banton advocates the murder of gay people and that he himself is accused of participating in a gay-bashing attack. Protestors will picket from 7 – 9 PM at the main entrance of Buju Banton’s concert venue, The Coronet,10 New Kent Road, London SE1 (adjacent to Elephant & Castle shopping centre). The protest has been organized with the co-operation of the police. Promoters have refused requests by the gay human rights group OutRage! to call off Banton’s concert (copy of letter below). “Banton's big hit song, Boom Bye Bye, incites the execution-style killing of gay and lesbian people. He urges listeners to shoot queers in the head, pour acid over them, set them alight, and burn them like car tyres,” said Peter Tatchell of OutRage! which is organising Sunday’s protest. Buju Banton is currently sought by Jamaican police in connection with a gay-bash attack in Kingston, Jamaica. “It is unconscionable that a singer wanted in connection with a vicious attack on gay men in his home country is being allowed to perform in this country,” said Mr Tatchell. “We cannot remain silent while a man accused of violent attacks on our community tours Britain as if nothing has happened. “It seems Banton is willing to back up the murderous threats in his song Boom Bye Bye with real-life homophobic violence,” added Mr Tatchell In a statement, the Jamaican gay rights group J-Flag said that Banton should turn himself over to the police and give his victims an opportunity to confront him in court. “J-Flag (001 876 978 8988) confirms that Buju Banton is wanted by the Jamaican police over an armed attack on a group of gay men in their home,” says Mr Tatchell “The allegations of Banton’s involvement in this violent homophobic assault are corroborated by Amnesty International in a letter to Mr Banton dated 19 August 2004 (see excerpts from the Amnesty letter below). “The existence of a warrant for Mr Banton’s arrest has been confirmed by Supt Thompson of the Jamaican police at Constant Spring police station to a BBC journalist based in Jamaica, Nina Robinson (001 876 969 8304), and to Volker Peschel, a journalist from the De Hamburg Morgenpost in Germany (00 49 4088 303 307). In addition, one of the victims of the attack on 24 June was given the same confirmation from Constable Linton at Jamaica’s Constant Spring police station (001 876 924 1421/22),” added Mr Tatchell. Excerpts from Boom Bye Bye lyrics (and translations) follow below. “Boom Bye Bye is probably the most murderous incitement recorded by any singer anywhere in the world,” added Mr Tatchell. “Banton still performs Boom Bye Bye, most recently on Sunday 8 August 2004 at the Smirnoff Festival in Negril, Jamaica. “The record remains on sale. He re-released it on his recent Greatest Hits album. “Banton is still making money from his incitement to kill gay people. “Buju Banton's PR agents are falsely claiming he has apologised for these murderous lyrics. It is true that his record company put out an ‘apology’ some years ago, but Banton immediately denied apologising and even attacked his own record company for doing so. If he is sorry, why is Banton still performing Boom Bye Bye, re-releasing it, and making money out of it? “Because Boom Bye Bye is Banton’s biggest ever hit, he nearly always performs it at live concerts. “Free speech does not include the right to commit the criminal offence of incitement to murder. “It is very important we protest against this concert in order to show that the gay community will not put up with 'murder music'. If violent homophobia becomes a popular musical genre, it will almost certainly be followed by a rise in anti-gay assaults”, said Mr Lock. Amnesty International letter to Buju Banton, 19 August 2004, issued by Susan Lee, Programme Director – Americas, International Secretariat, AI London: “We can confirm that Amnesty International has received information from reputable national and international human rights organisations concerning reports that Buju Banton was involved in a homophobic attack. These reports take the form of statements that allege that on June 24 2004, six men were driven from their home and beaten by a group of armed men, and that the alleged assailants included Buju Banton (Mark Anthony Myrie). The reports further allege that this attack was apparently motivated by hatred of gay men: the victims reported that both before and during the attack the assailants had called the men “battymen” (homosexuals). Amnesty International is further aware that several of the alleged victims were interviewed by a Human Rights Watch researcher who was in Jamaica at the time. Amnesty International has also received reports that several of the alleged victims made official reports to the Constant Spring police station on 25 June 2004.“ Buju Banton - Boom Bye Bye Summary: This song incites the execution-style killing of gay and lesbian people, by shooting them in the head, pouring acid over them or setting them alight, and burning them like car tyres. The Jamaican patios lyrics are followed, line by line, by translations into standard English Anytime Buju Banton come Anytime Buju Banton comes Batty bwoy get up an run Faggots get up and run…… Chorus: Boom bye bye Boom (gun shot) bye bye (Goodbye, as in you're dead) Inna batty bwoy head In a faggot's head Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man Rude boy don't promote any nasty (queer) man Dem haffi dead They have to die….. Verse Send fi di matic an Send for the automatic (gun) and Di Uzi instead The Uzi (gun) instead Shoot dem no come if we shot dem- Shoot them, don't come (to help them) if we shoot them…… Guy come near we If a guy comes near me Then his skin must peel Then his skin must peel (Note: In Jamaica, pouring acid on an individual is a common revenge tactic) Burn him up bad like an old tire wheel Burn him up bad like an old tyre Manager Coronet New Kent Road London SE1 12 September 2004 Dear Simon Parks, Buju Banton - Hail Kings of Glory ’04 concert, Coronet, 19 September 2004 I am writing to you on behalf of the lesbian and gay human rights group OutRage! I emailed you on 26 August but have had no reply. This letter is an update, providing new information about gay-bashing charges pending against Buju Banton. The Jamaican police have issued an arrest warrant for Buju Banton on charges of causing “grievous bodily harm” in a gay-bashing attack in Kingston, Jamaica, on 24 June 2004. This can be confirmed by contacting DCI Clive Driscoll of the Metropolitan Police on 07730 050 908. Attached are corroborations from Amnesty International (including reference to information from Human Rights Watch in New York), and from the Jamaican gay rights group J-Flag (001 876 978 8988). Both confirm that Buju Banton is wanted by the Jamaican police in connection with the afore-mentioned assault. The existence of a warrant for Mr Banton’s arrest has been confirmed by Supt Thompson of the Jamaican police at Constant Spring police station to a BBC journalist based in Jamaica, Nina Robinson (001 876 969 8304), and to Volker Peschel, a journalist from the Die Hamburg Morgenpost in Germany (00 49 4088 303 307). In addition, Amnesty International in London have also received details from an informant that an arrest warrant has been issued, and one of the victims of the attack on 24 June was given the same confirmation from Constable Linton at Jamaica’s Constant Spring police station. In these circumstances, it would be irresponsible and unethical for the Coronet to host a singer who is wanted by the police on allegations of violent assaults against gay men. Apart from being insensitive and offensive to the gay-bash victims and the wider gay community, it will also do your venue’s reputation immeasurable public harm. In addition, if the concert goes ahead with Buju Banton on stage there will be protests. Feelings are running very high in the lesbian and gay community. We fear serious public disorder – but not on our part. OutRage! will protest peacefully outside, come what may. There is a possibility we will face violent attack by Banton fans, many of whom share his intense homophobic hatred (we were assaulted outside the MOBO Awards ceremony in 2002, and only escaped serious injury thanks to our quick thinking and rapid-response police protection). We have already had threats to kill us from reggae fans. It is not inconceivable that there may be an attempt on our lives during the protest. We will not be cowed by such threats. It is our intention to protest peacefully as planned. If the concert goes ahead and there are serious injuries, much of the media and general public are likely to point the finger of blame at the venue and promoter for allowing the concert to happen. Is that a risk you are prepared to take? We hope not. It is our request that the Coronet does not host a singer who continues to regularly perform his murderous incitement to homophobic violence – Boom Bye Bye (most recently on 8 August at a concert in Negril, Jamaica) – and who is, himself, apparently implicated in real life violence against gay people. Even if Mr Banton agrees not to sing Boom Bye Bye, hosting him at your venue is collusion with a person who has advocated the killing of other human beings. It is rewarding and giving legitimacy to a singer who has incited murder – a criminal offence. Allowing Banton to perform, providing he does not sing Boom Bye Bye, is like agreeing to host a neo-Nazi artist on the condition he does not sing about gassing Jews. For all these many reasons, venue managers and promoters across Europe have cancelled Banton’s performances. His entire Scandanavian tour has been axed, together with his concerts in Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg and three other German cities. We appeal to you to follow their example and cancel the performance of Buju Banton at the Coronet on 19 September. This issue is not about mere homophobia. Banton does more than criticise homosexuality and insult gay people. He openly advocates the murder of lesbians and gay men. His song Boom Bye Bye urges listeners to shoot queers in the head, pour acid over them and burn them alive. These murderous lyrics have been linked to a rise in homophobic violence, both here in Britain and in Jamaica. It is totally inappropriate, and disastrous PR, for the Coronet to host a singer so deeply implicated in murderous incitements and alleged acts of violence against lesbian and gay people. We have no objection to any of the other performers. We are happy for the concert to proceed, providing Mr Banton is not part of the bill. Indeed, we celebrate and salute Jamaican reggae music, which has made a huge, positive contribution to black and world culture. Our objection is solely to singers like Banton who incite the murder of lesbians and gay men. The news release below explains in full our objections to Mr Banton, details his murderous lyrics, and explains why we believe his performance should be cancelled. But please let us reiterate once more that Buju Banton does not merely express his disapproval of homosexuality. He calls for all homosexuals to be killed and incites his listeners to go out and murder gays and lesbians. This goes way beyond an acceptable expression of opinion. Lesbian and gay people have a right to live their lives free from threats to kill them. Inciting murder is a criminal offence. Giving a platform to Banton could render the Coronet liable to prosecution for aiding and abetting the crime of incitement to murder. As you may know, the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service are conducting a criminal investigation into Banton and those who aid and abet him. Inciting violence against any human being for any reason is totally unacceptable. Free speech does not include the right to encourage the criminal act of murder. Even if Banton agrees not to sing his “kill queers” songs at the Coronet, it would still be wrong to have him on the stage. Singers who incite the murder of gay people (or anyone else) should be shunned, not rewarded. By giving Banton any kind of platform you would be colluding with a performer who wants us queers dead. It would signal that you see people who incite murder as legitimate, acceptable performers. They are not. OutRage! is sure the Coronet would not host a singer who urged the killing of black or Jewish people. We ask you show the same ‘zero tolerance’ of a singer who incites homophobic violence and murder. Take the example of a singer with neo-Nazi sympathies, who had previously released a song calling for the gassing of Jews. Would you host them if they promised not to sing their anti-Semitic diatribes? We think not. You would wisely and responsibly take the view that having expressed such bigoted, murderous sentiments the singer was beyond the pale and should not be hosted – even they agreed to limit their set-list to cover versions of Cliff Richard songs. We ask the Coronet to adopt the same stance towards singers who incite the murder of lesbians and gay men. Many of the fans of Banton share his violent homophobia. In the past, they have reacted to the music by threatening and bashing homosexuals. We do not wish to see a repeat of this homophobic violence on the streets of London. We are sure that as a responsible business, with a sizeable liberal-minded audience, the Coronet would not wish to associate with, or help promote, singers who incite the killing of other human beings. OutRage! urges you to take immediate action to ensure that the invitation for Buju Banton to perform at the Coronet is withdrawn, on the grounds of possible public disorder and the danger that their performance may provoke assaults on lesbians and gay men. Please confirm receipt of this letter, and advise us of your decision. Details of Banton’s lyrics follow below, after the news release. Many thanks for your consideration, Peter Tatchell OutRage! PO Box 17816, London SW14 8WT