Following Arkansas state senator Jason Rapert's recent call for the cancellation of an upcoming Eyehategod show due to its poster featuring a satirical image of the politician eating a baby, singer Mike IX Williams has responded in a brief but strong statement on Facebook.
"Thank you for all the attention you've given the EyeHateGod show in Little Rock, Arkansas. Any image that was used of you is protected under the First Amendment, which supposedly protects us 'Americans,'" Williams fired back at the conservative Rapert, who called the show's flyer "hateful" and "a wicked and evil depiction."
The New Orleans rocker continued, "Please stick to destroying peoples lives by trying to ban same sex marriage, opposing medical marijuana legalization, threatening minorities, and absolutely attacking women's right to choose. Your moral crusade against basic human rights will be fought at every turn."
Following the post (and the boost in tickets sales due to the controversy), Williams told Kerrang!, "People sometimes think that my band is just a bunch of ignorant losers, but we actually believe in these things and feel like it's something that should be fought against ... I see that he's against basic human rights, so it is a good chance to say something."
The EHG frontman says he hasn't received any harassing or negative messages, and they will handle any protestors that show up at their gig appropriately and with force if necessary. The group is dedicated to defending its "dark sense of humor," he says. "At the end of the day, it's fun. We're just having fun. But we do have beliefs, and we believe in freedom. And we'll fight for that if it comes down to it."
