KRS-One landed himself in the middle of some controversy after he appeared to speak out in support of Afrika Bambaataa who is facing claims of sexual abuse towards three people, who were minors at the time.
Afrika Bambaataa has categorically denied the allegations made against him and some came out in support.
KRS-One was reported as one of those but he says his words were twisted. And he has also published a blog post which eloquently clarifies his position on the matter.
The post is in full below and the original can be see here.
KRS-ONE CLARIFIES HIS POSITION ON LAW, JUSTICE AND LEADERSHIP.
Please do not get caught-up in videos, headlines and blogs! My 30-year career stands as evidence of my integrity. I am a man of JUSTICE! So, allow me to make my position extremely clear. In regards to the Afrika Bambaataa controversy, I am in no way “defending” Afrika Bambaataa, or somehow excusing him of the “accusations” made against him because he is Afrika Bambaataa. Be clear with this. I have saidrepeatedly on video and in writing that I am saddened and shocked at the whole controversy, and that Bam is going to have to deal with this matter on his own; that this is a matter for him to deal with personally with his accusers and that “I hope for the healing of everyone involved”. And I mean that. But to condemn any person with no evidence and only accusations to go by is indeed wrong and unlawful. Such is NOT leadership. Afrika Bambaataa’s attorney, Vivian Kimi Tozaki, has written: “Defamatory statements were published seeking to harm my client’s reputation so as to lower him in the community, while deterring others from associating or dealing with him. The statements, showing a reckless disregard for the truth, were published with knowledge of their falsity, and are being made by a lesser known person seeking publicity”. Afrika Bambaataa himself has also said, “I have never abused nobody”. But for some reason, none of this matters; Afrika Bambaataa is guilty of “sexual abuse” because of the “allegations” made against him. This is simply not right. It is not right from a legal, a political or from an ethical point of view, and older people, wiser people, more mature people should know this already.
The ignorant and the immature can “feel” whatever they like, but this is why there are laws to govern social behavior. Too often we cry out for a brand of justice that we refuse to give to ourselves. Too often we as a community expect others to give us the justice that we are unwilling to give to ourselves. In the United States a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Yes,proven guilty. This is the law. Yet, Afrika Bambaataa has received no such presumption of innocence, he has already been deemed guilty of “abuse” with no evidence and only accusations against him. This is dangerous for anyone, and real leaders cannot become entangled in such controversies that have no real healing for the victims, no recovery for the accused and no real justice in sight. Again, I am in no way defending Afrika Bambaataa, I am defending real truth and real justice for all!
KRS-One
0 Comments