Victims’ families criticize Virginia Tech concert
Relatives of some Virginia Tech massacre victims are criticizing the school and Dave Matthews Band for recruiting rapper Nas to play a benefit concert on campus next month, according to The Washington Post.
DMB organized the Sept. 6 Concert for Virginia Tech to help boost school spirit following the April 16 shootings that left 32 people dead. But Vincent J. Bove, who told the Post he is a spokesman for seven victims’ families, said that including Nas on the bill is insensitive because of his violent lyrics.
“For a university official to condone it or to be clueless of what this person’s track record is, it’s unconscionable beyond belief,” he said.
The sister of a victim also told the Post that the inclusion of Nas is “the most inappropriate thing I could imagine.”
John Mayer and country singer Phil Vassar are also scheduled to perform at the concert, which is free for members of the Virginia Tech community. A school spokesman said in the Post that response to the concert, which was officially announced this week, has been “tremendously positive.”
UPDATE: According to the Collegiate Times, the Black Student Alliance at Virginia Tech helped recruit Nas so the concert would “appeal to the greatest number of students.”
