The R. Kelly alleged sex-cult fallout has taken a new turn as Atlanta mayoral candidate and Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves has taken a position. The singer is scheduled to perform in Atlanta later this month and many in the city want the concert canceled. The concert is to be held at the Wolf Creek Amphitheater in the South Fulton County area of Atlanta, which is owned by the county. Last month, Oronike Odeleye, a resident of the city of Atlanta and the managing director of the Creative Currents Artist Collaborative, sent a letter to Chairman Eaves and other commissioners that says in part, ”Atlanta and Fulton County, with our own looming sex abuse and sex trafficking problems, should take a strong and vocal stand against these crimes and their perpetrators. Wolf Creek Amphitheatre and Fulton County should not be vehicles through which R. Kelly can increase his notoriety, gloss over and normalize his behavior, and continue to profit and fund his crimes against women. Although he has managed to escape conviction for his crimes, despite a mountain of physical evidence and witness testimony, Fulton County owes its citizens pre-emptive protection from these kinds of predators and should not allow his fame to be a shield behind which he can continue to hide.”
Chairman Eaves is now calling for a criminal investigation against R. Kelly by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. Eaves received a police report from the metro Atlanta area city of Johns Creek. Based on that letter, Eaves is holding a press conference today and issued the following statement to rolling out:
“A detailed local investigation by the John Creek Police Department has provided key information that we believe is enough evidence that gives the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office all it needs to advance a criminal investigation of the well-known allegations. Today, I am asking District Attorney Paul Howard and his investigative officers and prosecutors to fully review the report of the Johns Creek Police and follow every lead—no matter where it leads, or who it implicates, and bring those persons to swift justice.
No one should be above the law, because of their income or their zip code. And we will not allow our young girls and young women to be preyed upon by predators or anyone who aims to brainwash and strip them of their human dignity and their right to be free.
Again, as a father of a teenager daughter and a responsible leader in this community, we have a moral responsibility to stand up for people who cannot protect themselves. Today, I am asking our Fulton County Justice officials to do just that. If we won’t protect our young girls and young women, who will?”
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a letter to Live Nation requesting the canceling of the upcoming concert. Live Nation is contracted to manage all concerts at Wolf Creek and Fulton County does not have legal right to cancel the concert. However, the Board elected to send the message as a disapproval of the continuation of the concert in the public-owned facility.
