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50 Cent, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Oprah Winfrey are reportedly among over three dozen celebrities who have been subpoenaed to testify in a Detroit producer's $900 million federal lawsuit accusing Canadian border officials of discriminating against rappers and African-Americans.
Jerome Almon, CEO of Detroit-based label, Murdercap Records, filed the lawsuit in January, claiming that for over a decade he has faced lengthy interrogations and has been consistently turned away when trying to cross the Canadian border. Almon says he is not the only one facing this problem, claiming he shares this experience with a slew of hip-hop's most popular rappers.
Almon's suit blames Canada's alleged prejudice on African Americans and rappers "in an effort to both blame them for the increased gang violence and gun murders in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver."
According to The Detroit Press, Almon subpoenaed black celebrities such as Oprah, Spike Lee and Snoop on Wednesday (August 22) because he wants them to testify about their own problems when trying to enter Canada.
The Detroit CEO has not ended there, also subpoening white celebrities as well, such as Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton, who have both done jail time, to testify about how comparatively easy it is for them to cross the border.
"The Canadian government is dirty, they know it and I know it," Almon told SOHH.com. "They been caught and now they trying' to figure out how they keep the rest of the rap stars like 50 Cent, Eminem, Jay-Z , etc from suing them too."
Almon feels now is the time for all in hip-hop to pull together, and this is as good a time to start as any.
"There is a global war on hip-hop, they blaming us for everything and anything, and we got to stand up right now," he continued. "We got to take our hands out of our pockets and drop our backhand on them."
Almon is not alone in questioning the treatment of rappers hoping to cross the boarder. During a stop on his 2005 tour, 50 Cent expressed his frustration with Canadian Immigration after key members of G-Unit, including Young Buck and Tony Yayo, were denied entry into the country.
"Somebody got shot the other day and they said it was my fault and didn't want to let me in the country," 50 told a Vancouver crowd. "I was in immigration for about two hours today and I thought about turning back. Young Buck got turned back. And Tony Yayo, Mobb Deep and M.O.P. But I stuck it out...@#*$ the police!"
According to the Detroit Free Press, Canadian officials have denied that they discriminate on the basis of race.
Lawrence A. Dubin, a law professor at the University Of Detroit Mercy School Of Law, revealed to the Detroit News that he doubts the celebrities will show up to give depositions in Almon's lawsuit. He also added that the celebrities who receive the subpoenas can seek court orders to overturn them.
"Without being well-versed on the facts of the case, I think that autograph-seekers should not start lining up for the event," Dubin explained.
The celebrities' depositions in Almon's lawsuit are scheduled to take place at the Cobo Center in Detroit on September 22.
Emails sent to the Canadian immigration office have not been answered at press time.
Source: sohh.com
Jerome Almon, CEO of Detroit-based label, Murdercap Records, filed the lawsuit in January, claiming that for over a decade he has faced lengthy interrogations and has been consistently turned away when trying to cross the Canadian border. Almon says he is not the only one facing this problem, claiming he shares this experience with a slew of hip-hop's most popular rappers.
Almon's suit blames Canada's alleged prejudice on African Americans and rappers "in an effort to both blame them for the increased gang violence and gun murders in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver."
According to The Detroit Press, Almon subpoenaed black celebrities such as Oprah, Spike Lee and Snoop on Wednesday (August 22) because he wants them to testify about their own problems when trying to enter Canada.
The Detroit CEO has not ended there, also subpoening white celebrities as well, such as Martha Stewart and Paris Hilton, who have both done jail time, to testify about how comparatively easy it is for them to cross the border.
"The Canadian government is dirty, they know it and I know it," Almon told SOHH.com. "They been caught and now they trying' to figure out how they keep the rest of the rap stars like 50 Cent, Eminem, Jay-Z , etc from suing them too."
Almon feels now is the time for all in hip-hop to pull together, and this is as good a time to start as any.
"There is a global war on hip-hop, they blaming us for everything and anything, and we got to stand up right now," he continued. "We got to take our hands out of our pockets and drop our backhand on them."
Almon is not alone in questioning the treatment of rappers hoping to cross the boarder. During a stop on his 2005 tour, 50 Cent expressed his frustration with Canadian Immigration after key members of G-Unit, including Young Buck and Tony Yayo, were denied entry into the country.
"Somebody got shot the other day and they said it was my fault and didn't want to let me in the country," 50 told a Vancouver crowd. "I was in immigration for about two hours today and I thought about turning back. Young Buck got turned back. And Tony Yayo, Mobb Deep and M.O.P. But I stuck it out...@#*$ the police!"
According to the Detroit Free Press, Canadian officials have denied that they discriminate on the basis of race.
Lawrence A. Dubin, a law professor at the University Of Detroit Mercy School Of Law, revealed to the Detroit News that he doubts the celebrities will show up to give depositions in Almon's lawsuit. He also added that the celebrities who receive the subpoenas can seek court orders to overturn them.
"Without being well-versed on the facts of the case, I think that autograph-seekers should not start lining up for the event," Dubin explained.
The celebrities' depositions in Almon's lawsuit are scheduled to take place at the Cobo Center in Detroit on September 22.
Emails sent to the Canadian immigration office have not been answered at press time.
Source: sohh.com