NORFOLK
The California rapper cited by police last weekend for using profanity at a concert said he was never told that he could not curse.
Raymond "Boots" Riley said given his national reputation, local officials should have known that profanity is often a part of his performances.
Riley, who is from Oakland, is the lead singer for the rap group The Coup. Some of his album titles include "Kill My Landlord" and "Genocide and Juice." He was cited Saturday night in Norfolk for using obscenity in public when he introduced the band Galactic at the Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Festival at Town Point Park.
Riley, who was a special guest of the band, used a variation of the F-word.
"I perform at daytime events where I can't cuss," Riley said by telephone Tuesday. "I perform on TV. There was nothing stopping them from changing the performance. All they needed to do was ask.
"My name was on materials that Festevents used to promote the event, so they knew I was coming. They didn't do their due diligence to find out who I was."
The head of Festevents, whose organization sponsors most downtown events, said Galactic was told that obscene language would not be tolerated. The band should have passed on the warning to Riley, Karen Scherberger said.
"I would ask Boots why didn't he do his research?" Scherberger said. "All he had to do was go on our Web site and he would have understood that not one of our programs is oriented just toward adults. All of our events are oriented toward families."
Scherberger said that for years, agents for bands have been told that obscenity is not allowed in concerts at Town Point Park. She also announced after the concert that Festevents would amend future entertainment contracts to include a no-profanity clause.
Festevents is a private group designed to create entertainment and draw people into Town Point Park and other city venues, such as Ocean View Beach Park. It gets much of its funding from the city.
Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, who attended much of the festival with one of his daughters, said Riley should have known better even without a warning. He described Riley's brief speech to the crowd as obnoxious and inappropriate.
"He could look out and see the type of crowd that was there," Burfoot said. "There were a lot of kids out there. A lot of families. It wasn't like there was a mob of young, excited people with their shirts off.
"He needs to learn Musician 101. You look at a crowd and figure out how to present yourself. I don't buy his explanation."
Profanity at Town Point Park became an issue after Afr'Am Fest over the Memorial Day weekend, when some downtown residents complained of hearing profanity from on-stage performers. Afr'Am Fest officials deny that obscene language was used but have agreed to work with the city to solve any problems.
Riley said he thinks that city officials are singling him out because of what happened at Afr'Am Fest. He said Norfolk leaders are trying to discourage young blacks from visiting downtown - an area that is becoming more residential and upscale.
"They are trying to draw a line in the sand, to say we're not going to have events that might draw the wrong kind of crowd," he said.
"I think probably from the moment I stepped on the stage, they just saw a black rapper and didn't hear a thing I had to say."
Scherberger said if any performer shouts the F-word at the top of his lungs at a concert, she would act the same way.
"Had it been a white person on the stage, I would have done the same thing."
Burfoot, who is black, said he stressed to Scherberger after Afr'Am Fest that the city needs to crack down on profanity. Scherberger's actions against Riley were not racially motived, Burfoot said.
Riley is scheduled to appear in Norfolk General District Court on July 23 to face the misdemeanor charge of profane swearing in public, a Class 4 misdemeanor that includes a fine of up to $250.
Riley said he isn't sure whether he will contest the charge. Several local attorneys have volunteered to represent him, he said.
Virginia Beach attorney Kevin Martingayle is among them.
"I would relish teaching a First Amendment lesson to those who think a criminal charge is the way to go," Martingayle said.
Staff writer Matthew Bowers contributed to this story.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
