It has been reported that the invitation for rapper and hip-hop mogul Jim Jones to perform at a Jersey City school on National HIV Testing Day has been rescinded, with city officials saying his work promotes violence.
Officials say they nixed the invite from the city Department of Health and Human Services when they read some of Jones’ lyrics.
Jones has been very candid about losing his father and uncle to AIDS. City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said that while the June 27 event has been canceled, the city is offering free HIV testing at several locations through the end of June.
“The City of Jersey City is proud to sponsor events during the month of June that encourage our residents to be tested for HIV/AIDS,” Morrill said. “When it was brought to the attention of the Mayor’s Office staff that Mr. Jones was the star of the concert, a careful review of Mr. Jones’ lyrics was done and ultimately the decision was made to cancel the show.
“Mayor (Jerramiah) Healy has always been a proponent of positive outlets for our youth and a strong gun control advocate,” she added. “Mr. Jones’ lyrics speak of violence to women and police, of the drug trade and guns, and other activities that Mayor Healy could not endorse by sponsoring an event featuring Mr. Jones.”
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