Red Thread petitions against R Kelly, Onyan and the Burning Flames
Georgetown, Guyana: stabroeknews.com has published that Red Thread (a Domestic Violence Survivors Self-Help Group) has petitioned the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism against the planned bringing of entertainers R Kelly, and Onyan and the Burning Flames for Jamzone this year.
Kelly has faced several charges in the US for sex with underage girls but has not been convicted. A song by Onyan titled “Kick in She Back Door”, critics have said, encourages rape and violence against women.
The petition titled “Guyanese say no to rape and pedophilia” was signed by more than 100 persons and delivered to Minister of Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, and Irfaan Ali, Minister of Tourism, Red Thread said in a release yesterday.
It said that the bringing of the two artists “encourages rape and violence against women if they deny sexual favours to men. Bringing these performers to Guyana to headline the popular Jamzone concert in effect, condones sexual violence.”
According to the organization, the promotion of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of “a concert featuring a child pornographer and a band encouraging forced sex and anal rape tells the Guyanese people that such behavior is acceptable and worthy of celebrating- a most vile message in a society facing an epidemic of sexual violence.”
The release also added that “Minister Anthony and Ali, as holders of portfolios that purport to serve youth, promote cultural activities and showcase the best of Guyana, are being called upon to intervene with Hits and Jams Entertainment and to demand that these offensive individuals are dropped from the Jamzone lineup.”
The exact text of the petition is as follows:
"We the undersigned, wish to register our disgust and outrage over the invitation of R. Kelly and Onyan & Burning Flames to Guyana by the Hits and Jams entertainment franchise to perform at the 2013 Jamzone concert.
We are petitioning you- Ministers Anthony and Ali- as holders of portfolios that purport to serve youth, promote cultural activities, and showcase the best of Guyana- to intervene with Hits and Jams Entertainment and demand that these offensive individuals are dropped from the Jamzone lineup.
R. Kelly is a known pedophile and child pornographer who repeatedly exploits underage girls, using his fame and wealth to evade justice. Onyan & Burning Flames is an Antiguan band whose latest song- ‘Kick Een She Back Door’ promotes and glorifies anal rape of women. The lyrics of this song encourage men to forcibly assault women who refuse to have sex with them.
We are calling on you Ministers Anthony and Ali because as government representatives, you have a responsibility to serve the people and to help to shape a society and nation that we can all be proud to call home. When the Ministry of Tourism promotes a concert with a child rapist/pornographer and a band encouraging forced sex and anal rape as the headliners, the message being sent to the Guyanese people is that such behavior is acceptable and worthy of celebrating and emulating. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports should also be concerned about the impact on young hearts and minds.
Our youth need better role models than R Kelly and Onyan & Burning Flames. Hits and Jams Entertainment needs to understand that encouraging individuals and groups like these is not in the best interest of Guyanese. We want and deserve better.
Guyanese say no to rape and pedophilia! We don’t want R Kelly nor Onyan & Burning Flames for Jamzone 2013!"
The Red Thread Group now awaits the response of the relevant government ministers.
Adapted by GoPetition from: http://www.stabroeknews.com/2013/news/stories/08/07/red-thread-in-petition-against-r-kelly-onyan-and-the-burning-flames/