Petition launched to bar Attila from Skate & Surf

Last year, the legendary Skate and Surf Festival returned to Asbury Park after ten years away. While the man behind the scenes, John D, has the city's best interest at heart, he has made careless mistakes when booking certain performers. Last year, upon moving the festival to Asbury, the city required he remove the hip hop artist DMX from the bill, citing homophobia in his music. This year, a band called Attila is on his festival's lineup. This band makes frequent use of the word f****t as a slur and acts as this is not harmful. I fear that, while the punk community is generally very accepting, this band will bring a crowd of people that will overall intimidate people and make the large LGBT+ community that may be at these shows feel threatened and unsafe. I urge the city of Asbury Park to consider asking John D and Skate and Surf to remove the band from the bill. Thank you.