Native groups criticize fair board over rappers’ ejection

FAIRBANKS — Alaska Native organizations are calling on an Interior Alaska state fair board to address issues of minority treatment and cultural insensitivity after a performance by two rappers was cut short and the men were ordered to leave the fairgrounds.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the groups told the Tanana Valley State Fair board in a letter that they won’t support the fair until the issues are addressed.

Natasha Singh with the Tanana Chiefs Conference said the organizations are encouraging the board to apologize to rappers Julian Lillie and Michael Cofey, who are known by their stage names as Bishop Slice and Starbuks.

The fair said the men, who are Alaska Native and black, were ordered to leave mid-performance because their music contained inappropriate lyrics.

The fair apologized in a statement for the incident and to “those who may have been offended.”

The Native groups said the action wasn’t sincere.

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