Town Point Park, in downtown Norfolk, is a venue used for lots of weekend festivals. One, the Afr’Am Fest, has been held on Memorial Day weekend for the past 25 years, mostly without incident. The downtown area has changed a lot in 25 years, with the addition of upscale housing added to the retail mix. As you might expect, co-existence of the old and the new is being strained.
This past Memorial Day, several complaints were lodged by the residents of downtown regarding the noise and, in some cases, vulgar lyrics. This past weekend, The Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Festival was held at the site and a performer used “an embellishment of the F-word.” The performer, Raymond “Boots” Riley, was ushered offstage and charges were filed against him.
Yes, there are laws on the books against public profanity, laws that are rarely enforced. Have you gone into a 7-11 lately? (Not picking on 7-11s here.) Or sat at a stop light while the car next to you is playing some, ahem, interesting music? Ever seen any of those folks arrested?
Didn’t think so.
In any case, the question in my mind is this: what, if anything, should be done about profanity in public? With such language being casually used on TV, have we become desensitized to it? If not, why isn’t there more outrage about it?
Inquiring minds want to know đŸ™‚
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
If this had been billed as an adult event, either excluding children or advising parents there might be inappropriate language, then there would be no problem. But Bayou Boogaloo was advertised as family friendly. That makes foul language inappropriate.
Whether arrest was warranted is questionable.
But contractually obligating performers to keep it clean in advance is certainly a proper way to accomplish this end.
I am ashamed that I can’t enjoy a day outside without hearing such foul language. I would much prefer to be around others like myself but now adays it’s hard to find good people with the ability to communicate on a respectable level. I believe Virginia needs to have a “CLEAN UP YOUR MOUTH” campaign. Seems so many don’t respect themselves and could careless who they offend , and actually gain pleasure from offending as many as possible!