Bill Text: NJ AR160 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Disapproves of inviting rapper Common to poetry event at White House due to support of convicted criminals and controversial raps.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-23 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [AR160 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR160-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID P. RIBLE
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman DOMENICK DICICCO, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Disapproves of inviting rapper Common to poetry event at White House due to support of convicted criminals and controversial raps.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing disapproval of the decision to invite the rapper Common to a poetry event at the White House.
Whereas, Receiving an invitation to participate in a poetry event at the White House is an exceptional honor that should be reserved only for those poets who have a record of excellence in their art and who speak to the best qualities that this country and its people have to offer; and
Whereas, Such an event should never offer an opportunity for any one to express anger at elected officials, hatred toward law enforcement officers or support for convicted criminals who have fled justice; and
Whereas, The decision to invite the rapper Common to a poetry event at the White House was ill-considered and a serious error, given the vile, profane and controversial nature of many of his raps; and
Whereas, One of Common's raps praises Assata Shakur who, as Joanne Chesimard, was convicted of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foester and wounding Trooper James Harper on the New Jersey Turnpike in Middlesex County in 1973, but escaped from custody and has been living in Cuba in political asylum; and
Whereas, Common's rap "A Song for Assata" portrays Chesimard as an innocent victim framed by police instead of as the murderer of a police officer, which she was found to be by a jury of her peers; and
Whereas, Because of this rap and others, the New Jersey State Trooper Fraternal Association called for the invitation to the poetry event to be rescinded due to Common's history as a "cop hater" and as someone who spreads a "deadly and dangerous message" to young people through his lyrics; and
Whereas, In Common's "God is Freedom," a lyric reads "Flyer say Free Mumia on my freezer," showing the rapper's support for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia Police Department Officer Daniel Faulkner; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for this House to express its disapproval of inviting Common to participate in a poetry event at the White House, given his outspoken support for Joanne Chesimard and Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the vile, profane and controversial nature of many of his raps; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House disapproves of inviting the rapper Common to participate in a poetry event at the White House, given his outspoken support for Joanne Chesimard, the convicted murderer of Trooper Werner Foester, and Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted murderer of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, and the vile, profane and controversial nature of many of his raps.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the White House, the family of Trooper Werner Foester and the New Jersey State Trooper Fraternal Association, and the family of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner.
STATEMENT
This House resolution disapproves of inviting the rapper Common to participate in a poetry event at the White House, given his outspoken support for Joanne Chesimard, the convicted murderer of Trooper Werner Foester, and Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted murderer of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, and the vile, profane and controversial nature of many of his raps.
