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Chuck Berry Statue Draws Protest Because of His Criminal Record
- Posted on Jun 24th 2011 12:37AM by Benjy Eisen
Barry Brecheisen, FilmMagic
On the other hand, a protest group opposes the honor a statue would bestow upon Berry because, they claim, one of his past criminal convictions is unacceptable. They are attempting to delay the statue's planned July installation in a public plaza not far from a legendary venue -- Blueberry Hill -- where Berry, age 84, continues to perform to this day.
Reuters reports that 86-year-old Elsie Glickert, a former city official, says the opposition takes issue with the fact that Berry is "a felon and not a friend of women." Specifically, she cites Berry's 1962 conviction in which Berry was found guilty and eventually sentenced to a $5,000 fine and three years behind bars for violating the Mann Act. Berry served one and a half years of that sentence, beginning in February 1962.
Technically, the Mann Act forbids "transporting a woman across state lines for immoral behavior." And while the language, itself the subject of controversy, is ambiguous, the law's general purpose is to protect women against indentured slavery and prostitution. In Berry's case the law was enacted after allegations that he had sexual relations with a 14-year-old Native American whom he, indeed, transported over state lines and employed at his nightclub, Berry's Club Bandstand, after meeting her in Texas in 1959. The girl was eventually fired and, later, arrested on a prostitution charge.
While that is the conviction that has caused protest in relation to the erection of a statue in his honor, Berry was also convicted of armed robbery when he was a teenager, and tax evasion in 1979.
Berry has three songs permanently etched in the 'Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock 'n' Roll' list -- 'Johnny B. Goode,' 'Maybelline,' and 'Rock 'n' Roll Music.' Of course, he has countless more that have merely influenced it.
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- Filed under: News, Pop Culture, Politics as Usual
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Thanks for sharing such an interesting and informative post.
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Susanti
Hey "Elsie Glickert" - you are an ignorant slut !
Rock on, Chuck !
HE a Great American ,It's about time keep up the good work
June 28 2011 at 9:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply50+ years is a long time not to forgive someone. They should say what they mean. There has to be a reason they are proud about which is the real reason they don't want the statue in their city.
June 27 2011 at 10:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI put in a longer comment, but I don't see it, so I'll be short. Chuck Berry deserves this honor. PERIOD. He paid long ago. However, before the statue is permanent, I want it made to really look like him, mustache, and maybe the sideburns he once wore? Surely someone has enought talent. He has always been my " brown-eyed, handsome, guitar picken' man" He makes us smile and want to dance.
June 27 2011 at 9:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySo let me get this right... he gets brought up at the time on what were admittedly bogus, completely racially motivated charges, the fix was in on the entire thing, he was chased by cops & sheriffs from town to town in the 50's after every show, does his time 50 years ago, & sold archaic old bat wants to jam him about something she knows nothing about, 50 years later, when he's the biggest living icon on earth ? Ol' Elsie knew then what was really going on, only now she's too scenile to even know what day it is.... the statue should have been done 30 years ago !
June 27 2011 at 12:35 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Replyplz. People GET A F N LIFE! we touch the face of a inslavement, rappist, etc., every time u touch money! Statues r all across the US n every town and city with
Americans who have records. NO body is perfect and he has served his time. Don't erect any statutes and put up a CROSS if u CRAZY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING 4 A PERFECT PERSON.
Chuck Berry is an icon to rock n roll music. To deny a man who has wrote more song's than most people know, and who's influenced more people white, and black with his music, is a grave injustice. C'mon people get off of your oh so high n mighty horses, and give the man a break. Any mistake Chuck, has made in the past, he has served his time. So quit your bickering and put the statute of Chuck Berry, up and honor this musical genuis as he should be.
June 27 2011 at 3:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyPffft, find a rock'n'roll star without a criminal record.....gimmie a break, he will be remembered for his accomplishments in rock and roll with or with out a statue. Let the man have his day! If they conservatives can have plaques with the 10 commandments on them (and break half of them anyway), then they can suffer with a statue of a rock'n'roll legend!
June 26 2011 at 8:34 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyStupid right wing freaks... HE IS THE KING.. the INVENTOR .. he deserves a statue 50 feet tall.
June 26 2011 at 8:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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