Judge Tosses Kennedy Center Suit Against Musician Chuck Redd, Who Canceled Performance Over Trump's Influence

Attorneys for musician Chuck Redd opportunity a D.C. Superior Court judge dismissed a breach of statement suit revenge against nan creator aft he canceled a Christmas Eve capacity astatine nan Kennedy Center successful protestation of President Trump’s power complete nan venue.

The dismissal was granted Friday nether Washington’s Anti-SLAPP laws, which are designed to forestall meritless lawsuits intended to soundlessness opposing points of position connected matters of nationalist interest.

Redd, a drummer and vibraphone subordinate who has toured pinch Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown and others, had presided complete vacation “Jazz Jams” astatine nan Kennedy Center since 2006. He called disconnected past year’s capacity soon aft Trump’s handpicked committee for nan Kennedy Center voted to adhd nan president’s sanction to nan venue, which Congress named for President Kennedy aft his assassination.

“The Center sued Mr. Redd because he publically and rightly objected to adding Donald Trump’s sanction to nan Kennedy Center, a surviving memorial to erstwhile President John F. Kennedy,” Lisa J. Banks, 1 of Redd’s lawyers, said successful a statement. “The suit against Mr. Redd was governmental retribution, axenic and simple, by nan Trump Kennedy Center, and nan Court correctly saw it arsenic specified successful dismissing nan lawsuit pinch prejudice.”

Redd told nan Associated Press successful an email Saturday that he is “very pleased pinch nan judge’s ruling.”

The mobility to dismiss, revenge successful March, based on that Redd wasn’t contractually obligated to perform. It included nan statement provided by nan Kennedy Center, which nan creator ne'er signed.

Representatives for nan Kennedy Center did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected nan suit’s dismissal.

Goldin writes for nan Associated Press.