I just got an email from Jacab Feder of the Cleveland Afropop band
Mifune, who we learned in
Timroff's diary were stopped mid-song yesterday because they wouldn't remove their anti-Bush T-shirts. The story made it to the
Plain Dealer today. (And that may be partly because or you diary, Timroff, who knows?)
Tower City shuts off band for political T-shirts
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Michael Sangiacomo
A band wearing anti-President Bush T-shirts was silenced in mid-performance at Tower City Friday because the mall's management felt the band's attire was inappropriate.
Mifuné, an Afro-beat band, was performing as part of the Tri-C JazzFest when the sound was cut off about 20 minutes into the set on orders from Tower City management.
More (and an email for the Kosers from the band) below.
"They didn't like that all the band members wore a T-shirt with a picture of George Bush with a line through it," said band leader Jacob Fader, 28, of Cleveland Heights. "They said we either remove the shirts, turn them inside out, or get off the stage. I said that doing so would be against our core principles and free speech. [So many other people would have just done it. Way to fucking go, Jacob and Mifune.] We told the audience what happened from the stage after the microphones were cut. The crowd booed."
A spokesman for Tower City confirmed the action.
...
"When my father started to say that it was wrong to silence us, a security cop told him to shut up," Fader said. "My dad said he had the right to free speech and the security guy said, 'Not in here you don't.' "
...
Fader said what happened Friday is one of the reasons the band performs wearing anti-Bush T-shirts.
"This is indicative of what's going on in this country," he said. "They are stopping free speech, If it were up to Bush, things like the Tri-C JazzFest would not exist. This proves our point."
What's that boy? Everybody wants to know who they can send polite emails voicing their outrage? Well, okay then.
* The Lisa Krieger mentioned in the story can be emailed at: LisaKreiger@forestcity.net.
* The director of security is Carl Reddish, and he can be reached at: CarlReddish@forestcity.net.
* The managing director of the Tri-C Jazzfest, Beth Rutkowski, who supported the mall's move, can be reached at: this here page full of contacts.
* Most importantly, the band can be reached at: jacobnf@netzero.net.
Bandmembers were reading along at DKos yesterday as the diary grew, and Jacob responded to my email with a few kind words. This is truly one of the good guys.
It because of people like you (us) that our efforts are vindicated. Thank you for taking the time to write to us and show your support. We cannot stop until justice and love are heard!
onward, upward, respect
Mifune