Buju Banton "Violence to Gays" Reggae Not Cancelled For Thursday WOW Hall 9PM

author: A Fitting Eugene Welcome In Store for Unrepentant Gay Basher

"Dis is not a deal Guy come near we Then his skin must peel Burn him up bad like an old tire wheel" -- Buju Banton song "Boom Bye Bye" 1992

As of Wednesday evening Portland promoter Mike Thrasher had refused to cancel his booking of Buju Banton at Eugene's Community Center for the Performing Arts, better known as WOW Hall. Sally Sheklow and other gay and lesbian community members picked the WOW hall Tuesday. WOW hall staff, requested that Thrasher cancel the show. Thrasher refused. The WOW hall is requiring that Thrasher hire 10 extra security guards for the show. Thrasher indicated his willingness to hire the guards, even through the show might loose money. The Banton appearance in Seattle was cancelled after community protests. Banton played Portland's Crystal Ballroom Monday September 25 (Portland Human Rights supporters were reported "asleep at the wheel").

Besides the anti-gay song, reportedly still in his performances, Banton was one of the men charged in Kinston, Jamaica with the June 24, 2004 beating of six gay men. Banton reportedly paid a $50,000 fine but served no jail time for the violence.

The Eugene venue for the scheduled performance Thursday September 28 is a progressive community owned non-profit hall. The center, informally known as the WOW Hall, promotes its own shows but also rents the facility to outside promoters. The Banton show is such a rental.

At least some WOW Hall staff plans to support and even join protesters at the hall at 8th and Lincoln in downtown Eugene on Thursday. Its also possible than the artist himself, or Eugene police, might cancel the show if it becomes clear that the community is not inclined to tolerate performance artists who promote violence against gays.