Less than a week after his taped interview with activist and revolutionary Mumia Abu-Jamal [click to read], The Coup’s Boots Riley was charged by Norfolk, Virginia Police for using profanity in public. The veteran emcee was performing with Anti/Epitaph Records label-mates, New Orleans Funk band Galactic at Bayou Boogaloo Music Festival in downtown Norfolk.

Saturday evening’s performance drew complaints from audience members. The festival organizer Festevents, has pressed subsequent charges against Boots, and listed the following statement on their website, “To those who attended The Bayou Boogaloo Galactic concert Saturday night, we regret that our guests were exposed to profanity used during the performance. Appropriate action was taken to end the concert immediately and the musician responsible has been charged with abusive language by the Norfolk Police Department. This type of behavior is not tolerated by Norfolk Festevents and we sincerely apologize for this incident.”

Neither Boots, nor his label has yet to release a statement on the matter. The Coup’s last album was 2006’s Pick A Bigger Weapon.

In the past, The Coup has been vocal about injustice and police brutality, including 2001’s “Pork & Beans” from Party Music.

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