Press Release from Hip Hop group Bojah
US Government Threatens US Artist for Performing at International Hip Hop
Festival in Cuba Brock Satter, a.k.a. Bojah, bandleader of
"spoken-soul-hop" fusion group Bojah and the Insurrection,
received a letter from the US Department of Treasury requesting information
on his recent trip to Cuba and threatening penalties against him for failure
to comply.
Satter was a featured artist at the 9th annual Hip Hop Festival in
Havana. The Havana hip hop festival is a well established event which has
featured US artists such as Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Dead Prez, as
well as Cuban groups and others from around the world. Erykah Badu was also
slated to perform at the 9th festival, but was prevented from travelling to
the island by the blackout which occurred in New York and other parts of the
US and Canada during the August 2003 festival.
Satter, a professional artist and producer, travelled to Cuba legally
under current US regulations.
"This is an attempt by the US government to stifle freedom of
expression and the right of US citizens to freely exchange ideas and culture
with their Cuban counterparts," Satter said. "I intend to fight
this harrassment and I encourage others who have received such threatening
letters to fight them as well. Not only is this harrassment of myself, but
the law itself is an attack on our basic right to travel."
Satter's legal team is demanding the Department of Treasury drop all
inquiries and further attempts to prosecute him for violation of travel
restrictions.
Cuba is designated as an enemy country under the Trading With the Enemy
Act. Unless authorized by a license, US citizens are restricted from
spending money while in Cuba, effectively restricting travel to the island.
Maximum civil penalties for violation is $55,000. The maximum criminal
penalties are $250,000 and 10 years in prison. There are general provisions
under the regulations which permit travel under certain guidelines. One
guideline allows for travel by "full-time professionals whose travel
transactions are directly related to professional research in their
professional areas, provided that their research: (1) is of a non-commercial
nature, (2) comprises a full work schedule in Cuba, and (3) has a
substantial likelihood of public dissemination." Satter travelled under
these general provisions. Satter was not paid for his performance at the
festival and has been speaking about what he learned about the Cuban hip hop
scene at colleges, high schools, and community meetings around the country.
Several hundred thousand US citizens travel to Cuba every year with or
without a license. Thousands of people await prosecution by US courts. The
law is being challenged by many as unconstitutional.
Satter is appealing for support both political and financial in order to
stand up to this harrassment. The defense committee is encouraging
supporters of his fight to send letters of protest to the Director of the
Office of Foreign Assets Control, R. Richard Newcomb, demanding that the
Treasury Department drop its investigation of Brock Satter.
R. Richard Newcomb
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control
Department of US Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Annex)
Washington, D.C. 20220
email:
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