In reply to Richard Jones's "Hear Buju and decide yourself" (Letters, July 7), Brighton is a liberal and freethinking city which needs preserving.

We did make up our minds and then did something about a musician who was making repeated threats and inciting violence against us.

Intelligent and open debate does not consist of stating one wrong to excuse another and, just because badness exists, this doesn't mean we should tolerate it.

Buju has repeated his "too-literal" nonsense once to often and Amnesty itself has confirmed Buju Banton has been accused of gay-bashing as recently as August 2004.

I decided this is not the kind of person I want in my town, regardless of the sad apologists who love his "deeply spiritual music" and excuse his offensive lyrics and behaviour.

-Rex Mankelow, Brighton