Mobile, Alabama City Council Defends Ludacris Concert Despite Protests

Despite rampant protests, Ludacris will perform at the 13th Annual BayFest music festival in Mobile, Ala. The three-day event, which takes place between October 5 and 7, features over 125 musical acts and is one of the cities biggest concerts. But according to the Mobile Register, various conservative groups, lead by Sam Martston IV, have protested Ludacris’ involvement in the festival even though the Atlanta native has agreed to censor his lyrics for the concert. “Someone, perhaps the council and the mayor, owe the city an apology for the decision to invite Ludacris,” Martston says. “Its great for him to give a good show and fool some parents into letting their children go out and buy this music that includes these awful lyrics.” Not everyone, however, agrees with Martston’s crusade to ban Luda. On Tuesday, August 21, the Mobile City Council and city administration defended their decision to let Ludacris perform. “We stand on the merits of who we hired,” says Bobby Bostwick, the city’s director of cultural and civic development. “We’re going to continue to pick the best of every type of music we can get.” Council member, Fred Richardson, also threw his support behind Luda. “People change,” he said. “Give this brother a chance.”