Hit Man Ordered To Kill Gay Activist
by Peter Moore, 365Gay.com Newscenter, London Bureau.
Originally published: 27 September 2004.
(London) London police are giving British gay rights leader Peter Tatchell round the clock protection following death threats from supporters of anti-gay Jamaican reggae artists.
Police believe that a violent gang of Jamaicans known as the Yardies have been hired to kill Tatchell, leader of the LGBT civil rights group Outrage.
The Yardies are responsible for a string of murders in London and police describe them the "black mafia".
Tatchell has led the worldwide fight against Jamaican dancehall singers whose music contains calls to kill and maim gays. Following complaints to police a September 2 in Manchesterc by Sizzla was ordered cancelled, and then on the 23 a concert by Buju Banton was halted.
“Intelligence gathered about previous appearances of the artist and the implications of his previous performances suggest a likelihood of public disorder and the potential for disruption at his performances," said a police spokesperson
Tachell is also responsible for making American gays aware of lyrics in songs by Capleton and Beenie Man who are currently on tour in the US.
A number of venues cancelled concerts after threatened protests by gay groups. A performance by Beenie Man at the MTV video awards was dropped along with a series of concerts sponsored by a tobacco company. Capleton has been touring House of Blues venues and is to play in the heavily gay West Hollywood House of Blues next month.
As a result of the concert cancellations on both sides of the Atlantic the performers have lost millions of dollars, but police will not speculate whether the death threats come from the artists or their fans.
Police believe that the Yardies have or are trying to bring in a hit man from Jamaica.
"We are taking the threats against Mr. Tatchell very seriously," a spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police told 365Gay.com.
Tatchell says he has received 20 death threats in the street, on the telephone and by e-mail.
One email sent to Outrage by a man called Rabid Monk warned Tatchell “If you go to protest at any large rasta-based festivals you may not leave standing.”
Numerous messages posted on reggae fan websites call for Tatchell to be killed. A message posted on one dancehall reggae website by a man calling himself Killarock says: “Where are the shottas (gunmen) over in England, I bet if the shottas dem kill a few a dem they will calm down, cause right now England battyman dem ago start a world movement.”
This story provided by our International News Partners 365gay.com.
