Hon Kate Wilkinson MP
Associate Minister of Immigration
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON
Friday 13 November 2009
Dear Kate
Invitation to Anthony Moses Davis (alias “Beenie Man”) to perform at Big Day Out 2010: Request to Decline Entry Visa
Anthony Moses Davis (born Kingston, Jamaica, August 22, 1973) is a reggae performer, notorious for his lyrics and other statements promoting the killing of gay and lesbian people.
The lyrics to one of his songs include: “I’m dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays”. In another, “Mi Nah Wallah”, he says he would like to cut the throats of all gay men. In “Bad Man Chi Chi Man” he instructs listeners to kill gay deejays, and in “Han Up Deh”, he advocates hanging lesbians, with a long piece of rope.
It is reported that the organisers of the Big Day Out, a music festival, have invited Anthony Moses Davis to perform at their 2010 event.
Since 1994, gay and lesbian New Zealanders have had the protections affirmed by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. These include the right to freedom from discrimination. That right cannot be given practical effect if people who rejoice in advocating violence towards us, especially in a public way, are welcomed to this country. As one of our parliamentary colleagues has recently observed in this context, music that denigrates gay men and lesbians in the most extreme way imaginable sends some very powerful signals both to young gay and lesbian people but also to their peers. It is now well-document that many young lesbian and gay people suffer violence, harrassment, lowered self-esteem and the consequent health and social problems that stem from the denigration that many of them experience. It cannot be conducive to social cohesiveness, good order and desirable public policy that these outcomes are facilitated. Granting an entry visa to Anthony Moses Davis would constitute such facilitation.
It appears that Anthony Moses Davis is a Jamaican passport holder. As such, he does not enjoy the right to visa-free entry to New Zealand.
I ask that you decline an entry visa on the grounds set out in para
Y3.1 viii of the Immigration Manual, which notes that “people will normally be refused entry to New Zealand if they…are a threat to security or public order in New Zealand”. For the reasons set out above, Anthony Moses Davis constitutes such a threat.
I look forward to your careful consideration of this matter.
Yours sincerely
Charles Chauvel MP
Hahahahahaha – excellent!! Like Calamity Kate is capable of the careful consideration of anything. Betchya she says the evidence of Beenie Man’s hate is “slim” and that there’s nothing she can do about it anyway.
I hope he and his hateful music doesn’t make it to our shores. It sickens me that anyone would write such demeaning songs about homosexuals. I hope Wilkinson does something about this.
I’m guessing that she’ll be strongly opposed to letting in Beanie Man but that she’s powerless to stop him.
Personally I’d prefer to see a protest boycott of the Big Day Out, rather than asking the state to decide whether or not an aritst and their message is acceptable before granting entry visas.
She’s not powerless, it depends on whether she wants to or not
She’s not powerless, it depends on whether she wants to or not
That’s my little joke – ‘firmly opposed but powerless to do anything’ was Wilkinson’s response to the folic-acid-in-breads debate.
Such faux outrage from Mr Chauvel.
Do we see the same ‘outrage’ from Chauvel when Mallard taunts the Attorney General with “tinkerbell” comments?
I was relieved that it was delayed. (not that I want to start that debate up again).
Chauvel
welcome to a democracy. There are many ideas that I find abhorrent, but in a democracy we allow free speech.
Personally, your entire labour party manifesto I find repulsive, but in a democracy we allow the exchange of ideas.
What would be better than the state giving a ban, is that the people at the BDO show their displeasure that this language is not tolerated in NZ.
sweetd
Acceptance, dignity, equality and respect have nothing to do with free speech; they have everything to do with our inviolable humanity and our desire for a decent society.
You may disagree with Charles, but at least agree to the sentiment for a decent society. And if you don’t agree to even that, then I think you’ll find that you’ll find your views to be quite lonely.
Free speech is not sacrosanct if it permits the intent to murder others, and even more so if this is based on a discriminatory prejudice.
I will agree with you that I am also sure that there will be many who will show their displeasure, and perhaps many more who will not go as a consequence of Beenie Man being at the BDO, but maybe, in this democracy, the popular will lead to an expression of rejection when bigots come knocking on our doors.
Hon Kate Wilkinson MP
Associate Minister of Immigration
Any reason you didn’t send this to the actual Minister, Coleman?
sweetd , when it come to granting visas , democracy doesnt apply.
Remember David Irving, he was refused entry .
There is no obligation to allow foreign citizens to come here and spread their hate speech. You are welcome to go to Jamaica anytime.
The idea that Labour party manifesto can be as repulsive as some one egging on the murder of people for their sexual orietation means you have a totally warped view on the world.
Funny though, there’s no threat to public order when an MP says he’d like to see another lined up and shot?!
Personally, I’d love to see him turn up at BDO, and noone actually go along and watch his “act”. I think the danger with his kind of message is it speaks to the impressionable young and lunatic fringe. Most reasonable people can dismiss it as what it is, shock value for the sake of sales.
Because she has the delegation to deal with individual cases
So entertainers who do not support the gay way are banned huh?
Ban, ban, ban, that’s the way to go. Soon we will only have concerts by gay people. If you are not gay, you are not wanted in NZ.
Pathetic.
Sherylyn, there is, I might humbly suggest, a wee difference between not supporting something or someone, and actively encouraging their destruction. Hmmm?
I do have to ask whether a certain intolerance towards gays in being manifested here in your comment? But that just might be me.
Grant
Will you be planning similar letters for every black American rapper who tours New Zealand using the word “nigger” and “dirty bitch”, “ho” in their “songs” as offensive to black people and women?
Or what about the black rapper who uses derogatory language against “white” people? Such as “cracker”, “whitey”, “honkey”?
Or when a musician has the word “crippled” in their song?
Eminem perhaps?
I say harden up.
You’ve just given this “Beanie Man” far more publicity than he should ever have. The “music” is atrocious and with any lucky he will bring in drugs and be stopped by customs and sent on his merry way to a holding cell in any instance.
Mac,
There is an intolerant element, but I can have an opinion? not just be guided by the threat of being banned so behave?
I have to check and recheck so I don’t upset the moderators path of thinking. Why this touchy feely rubbish when gay people are mentioned? The straight get censored. Scared to comment for fear of being banned.
Cactus,
Maybe you could have made a fine argument, if you actually were arguing the point. The point is not about free speech, it’s about inciting murder. We still have laws against threats to kill.
If you make a distinction between a so called artist suing lyrics to express a certain, that’s one view, but it’s a narrow view in this context.
I think adults can understand when someone gets to have the freedom to express themselves, and the bigoted incitement of murder. There is I think if you ask most people a line. That line was crossed.
I would prefer that a debate on this where such narrow mindedness wasn’t the refrain. So Cactus, how about you act like an adult and understand that in this case, no one group deserves to be singled out for threats of murder….who knows what group is the next target for such speech.
Maybe Women?
Maybe Asians?
Under S19 of the BORA everyone has the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of discrimination as per S21 of the Human Rights Act.This includes race and sexual orientation. As is evident wit Harawira’s comments, offensive racial discrimination is a lawful form of expression unless it is deemed threatening, abusive, or insulting. To be so it must intentionally incite hostility.
If racially offensive song lyrics must incite hostility to breach our human rights, therefore being unlawful, does sexually offensive lyrics have to similarly incite hostility? Regardless of whether the answer is yes or no, this musician, disgusting though his lyrics are, is probably not a threat to security or public order in New Zealand,as his lyrics wil not incite the hostility you claim.Dor this reason Wilkinson will be powerless to stop him entering NZ. And Charles, I think you are well aware of that. All you are doing is creating publicity for the very visit you dont want to see occur.
Abbie’s Ghost
Easy answer to your question – station a Policeman at the BDO and if the “artist” incites murder then arrest him.
No problem with that. If he breaks the law in NZ then arrest him and charge him with an actual criminal offence.
Thing is – this guy hasn’t broken the law in NZ so you have no jurisdiction to act under the point you bring up.
Why is it that the “Lefts” of this world cant understand the concept “I disagree with what he says but will defend to the death his right to say it”.
The communists – who took the attitude above (ie: ban , Ban) went arse up because you cannot stop what people think. You simply cannot make evreyone like gays – no what laws you pass. Best to have it out in the open and let everyone get it off their chest
Kate – obviously there is a big difference between referring to people in derogatory terms and talking about the execution of a whole class of people. You know that. You’re just stirring. I suggest you find a less offensive topic to stir on.
I’m gay. Beenie Man suggests that others execute me and all those like me. It might be a trite issue to you but to me it goes to the heart of who I am, what crap I’ve put up with for my whole life and indeed, the entire history of intolerance towards gays. Go do your political point scoring somewhere else, who chose the wrong target this time.
Banning people from entering the country depends on whether it is actually “in fact” true or not that security or public order would be threatened if he came to NZ. But the Immigration Minister doesn’t have to actually ban him. She could make the organisers pretty uncomfortable about the scrutiny other performers will get – after all, Lianne Dalziel turned the Black Eyed Peas round at the border in about 2002 or 2003, because they had drugs (I think it was a tiny amount too, but not sure) and she refused to exercise a discretion to let them in. So another rapper with a tiny bit of illicit material could be banned when normally it might be allowed (just this once), if the organisers persist with the invitation to the homophobic rapper. If the Immigration Minister thinks such things are important. I understand she has expressed a personal dislike of anti-lesbian rhetoric though.
The world would be a lot better off without all this hatred and intolerance been spread through it, especially when it is being pointed towards minority groups, such as gays etc. Dominic has the right to live his life as he sees fit without the likes of ‘Beenie Man’ calling for him and people like him to be wiped out. We went down that road back in the 1930’s, and already on this thread Sherylyn, is trying to spread her hatred for gays, she really needs to grow up and start being a bit more tolerant. Come on, Sheryl, do you hate gays? Are you a member of Family First? Its usually the so called Christians that are the worst. I have no idea why people hate gays so much. Its not like they are invading anyones personal space.
We really need restrictions on hate speech in this country. it may p*** off a few right wingers, but as I said before, I get sick of minorities getting slagged off left right and center these days. Imagine the uproar if this rapper started calling for Jews to be murdered? The sooner that people start facing legal action for handing out anti gay leaflets (and Dave gets his blog shut down) the better.
And Dominic, dont worry about Kate. She thinks that anyone earning less than $70,000 a year is scum, so you will never make her happy.
Hey why wont my comments go through?
[Your name was still in moderation - fixed now, admin]
Reading this conversation again it strikes me that being gay remains the last acceptable form of bigotry. Oh the anti-PC brigade will say we’re being wimps and that he should be able to say what he wants but if he was saying all Jews must die or all people of colour then he would have never lasted a second in the mainstream.
Mr Chauvel, why don’t you also put up a private member’s bill to ban this person’s music?
It seems to me that it’s his music that is so offensive, not the threat of him actually committing any crime in New Zealand.
Are there any other musicians or artists you’d like to ban because they might offend some people?
This seems like a very slippery slope to me.
Tim – this is not about offence. He urges people to kill gays. It’s way beyond simply finding him a bit off.
Again, you righties are painting this as mere ‘get over it’ territory. Perhaps being bashed and called an f-ing queer might give you perspective, it certainly did for me.
Tim . notice how many radical Islamic clerics have been allowed into the US recently. In fact the US visa restrictions have a long list of banned people.
Most countries restrict those with serious convictions from entering the borders, even not enough money will have on on the next plane home.
Tim doesnt like any sort of ‘bans’, so do you think convicted muderers should come here, after they did their time of course. After all there may not be any chance of murdering some one while in the country, but its their character that we dont like , based on their previous actions.
I’m back? I didnt realise I was really ‘there’…
“why don’t you also put up a private member’s bill to ban this person’s music”.
We have a person to decide whether to allow certain works into the country or now. He is called a censor.
If he does come I would encourage all at the BDO to boo him off the stage.
Can’t stop people coming into a country because you don’t like what they might say… Madness…
Hopefully no one will listen to this idiot anyway…
Beenie Man has had performances canceled before because of his intensely hateful songs that promote violence and killing of LGBT people. Beenie Man and the group T.O.K., also performers of “murder music,” were invited to perform at an HIV/AIDS awareness concert in New York City in 2006. A most inappropriate choice of performers. The entire event was canceled.
In 2004, Beenie Man was pulled from the bill of a concert in Miami, Florida, associated with the MTV VMA awards.
In Jamaica, sex between consenting adult males is against the buggery laws, with an up to 10 year sentence at hard labor.
There is tremendous violence and hatred, with killings, directed at LGBT in Jamaica. Two articles to look at:
http://tinyurl.com/qd7h3 Time Magazine “The Most Homophobic Place on Earth?” 04/12/06
http://tinyurl.com/mbv9hl “A grim place to be gay” UK Independent 09/12/09
mjwkiwi:
UM, let’s get this straight: One member of the Black Eyed Peas (I don’t even think it was a member of the band) was refused admission to New Zealand because they were holding illegal drugs, not because Lianne Dalziel found the lyrics to ‘My Humps’ sexist crap. (Though if she had, she wouldn’t be getting any argument from me.)
And while I have no desire to defend Beenie Man or the BDO, let’s take a deep breath here. Where do we draw the line — at hip-hop artists whose lyrics are profoundly derogatory towards women? How about denying Richard Dawkins entry to New Zealand next March because of his very strongly held view that religion is a form of mental illness?
I also think some around here really need to be clear about the legal standard of incitement.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by charleschauvel: A letter to Kate Wilkinson regarding Beenie Man: http://ping.fm/EXT50…
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The thing people need to remember is that in Jamica there are many, many gay men that come from America and other places and kidnap young Jamican boys as sex slaves. I will never condone his lyrics or the sentiments behind them, never. However I think it is worth remembering why some of what is being said is being said… I don’t think he should be denied entry but please protest, he needs to wake up to the hate hes insighting.
But just to make it clear i do NOT support Beenie Man!
Craig- well if an artist was advocating women should be executed then yes, keep them out of the country.
Jack – Jamaica doesn’t appear to be able to tell the difference between child rapists and gay men. Neither can Beenie man.
Thanks for sending this letter Charles.
Beenie Man has been cancelled http://www.3news.co.nz/Beenie-Man-dropped-from-BDO-line-up-/tabid/418/articleID/129653/cat/298/Default.aspx
oh good. That solves the problem.
Until the next time.
Incidentally;
That shows responsible decision making from the team setting up BDO. What a bugger politics did not work like that – imagine if our MPs and Prime Minister actually listened to the public.
Chauvel, you homos are far too easily offended.
Anyone can find something to be offended by if they look hard enough. Most people just suck it up and get on with life without whining. What ever happened to, “I don’t agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
C’mon you sissy, get over it.
Bill.
Thanks for all your postings folks, especially the supportive ones. Interesting to see the old chestnuts pop up, though. As Dominic points out, homophobia still excites an interesting double standard…
Dave, top marks for consistency. Yep, stick it to my motives, like you usually do – the last time was the suggestion that I was supporting the repeal of provocation beause of the gay angle, wasn’t it? I couldn’t possibly just believe in something so strongly that I am moved to act on it – as here – I must have an ulterior motive. Shame that getting your MA hasn’t improved your perceptiveness.
Jack, you say “many, many gay men that come from America and other places and kidnap young Jamican boys as sex slaves” by way of explanation of this guy’s way of thinking. That must be why he thinks lesbians should be hanged from long ropes.
Big Bruv, I’ve never heard Mallard say what you allege he has to Finlayson. If I did I would pull him up on it. I’ve worked closely with Mallard since 1986 on getting beneficial law reform through Parliament on each occasion it has come up. I don’t remember hearing a squeak out of Finlayson over most of that time, despite his years of political activism. So forgive me if I don’t put a lot of credence around the Tinkerbell rumour, or get very excited about it. And don’t you dare accuse me of false outrage. I am disgusted by the negative effects of homophobia, seeing mates fagbashed or abused. If you had a shred of deceny, so would you be.
Bill, this sissy – and a heap of others he knows – isn’t just going to meekly keep on paying a heap of taxes and being happy denied equal rights. Hate speech is unacceptable and we need a proper law about it in NZ. Till we get one, I’m going to make sure we don’t import some vicious dumbass to contribute to our already excessive domestic quota of homophobic crap.
“Bill, this sissy – and a heap of others he knows – isn’t just going to meekly keep on paying a heap of taxes and being happy denied equal rights. Hate speech is unacceptable and we need a proper law about it in NZ. Till we get one, I’m going to make sure we don’t import some vicious dumbass to contribute to our already excessive domestic quota of homophobic crap.”
How are you going to make sure that “we” don’t import the afore mentioned person?
Laws against “hate speech” are unconstitutional. I don’t hear Christians and other much maligned groups whinging the way you do when their sensibilities are offended. Who the hell are you to go around telling people what they can and can’t say?
As for taxes, don’t make me laugh. You are a member of parliament. You don’t contribute to the tax account. You produce nothing and receive a substantial stipend out of the money forcibly extracted from other people.
Bill.
Millsy you know this has gone too far. Deleted becasue it’s offensive and you are on a warning. Clare
And by the way, Christians have been dishing out hatred for 2000 years. They are responsible for the Ku Klux Klan and the Inquisition. They deserve every single piece of abuse they get, because as Bill, Dave and Sherlyn have shown, they are more than happy to dish it out. And indeed, if you gave them a gun, they will quite happily shoot homosexuals.
Hey Clare,
No offence, but you should be more worried about BR’s rants than mine. I am merely sticking up for one of your fellow MP’s.
BR, you ignorant fool, christians in Britain are whining about their sensibilities being offended, in response to laws proposed to make it an offence to exhort people to kill gay people. It is illegal though to say you should kill Christians. Double standard? Or fair enough in your view?