A New Orleans concert venue is offering $3,500 for information that leads to the identity of the person or persons distributing a racist flyer advertising a "Rock for White Power" concert event Saturday.
Southport Hall in Jefferson Parish took to Facebook to announce they'd been contacted by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office about a "defaming and racially motivated" paper flyer being posted in the community for a "Whites Only" event. The "heinous" handout, they said, used bold lettering and read, "Rock for White Power featuring Maiden Immortal" and listed the address for Southport Hall Live Music & Party Hall as well as Saturday's date.
The flyer also contained a Nazi Swastika symbol and proclaimed: "10 PM Whites only."
On Monday, the Southport Hall venue owners announced the $3,500 reward for help identifying the person distributing the "malicious" flyers. Pelican Events in Kenner, Lousiana, touted the Southport Hall venue as "a place that welcomes everyone" and added $1,000 to the reward offer. They also challenged bands that play at the venue frequently to contribute to the pot.
As of Wednesday, the person or persons who created and distributed the "Whites Only" flyer for the fake event have not been identified but the venue's Facebook page is rife with speculation from community members.
Maiden Immortal, the Pensacola, Florida, based band promoted on the flyers, told WWL-TV that the guitarist in the band arrived to the venue early and was "shocked" to find out about the flyer from which they disavowed any knowledge. "We would never condone anything like this," band co-founder and bassist Joe Hammond told WWL-TV.
"Upon coming to the venue in New Orleans, someone had posted a homemade flyer billing our show as a racist event. Speaking for our group, nothing could be further from the truth. We find this flyer to be horribly offensive, and we want to let all of our fans and friends know we love and appreciate everyone regardless of race, religion, sexual preference, etc.," band member Gary Humphrey wrote on the band's Facebook page Monday.
Several supportive comments on the venue's Facebook page mused about what kind of band or musical artist would ever headline a "Whites Only" rock concert.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed knowledge of the flyers and told local news outlets Tuesday they are actively investigating the situation. But a spokesperson for the sheriff's office said it remains unclear if an arrest is possible or if any local laws were violated by distributing the offensive printouts.
A sheriff's office spokesman told Newsweek Wednesday they have referred the investigation over to their criminal intelligence center in Metairie but "in all likelihood" there's no law or violation that could be levied against the distributor of the flyers. The spokesman said many in the community believe the flyer was simply a "hoax."
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Benjamin Fearnow is a reporter based out of Newsweek's New York City offices. He was previously at CBS and Mediaite ... Read more
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