Mark Mohr assaulted by reggae star Buju Banton because of Christian beliefs

THE LEAD singer of gospel singer Christafari, Mark Mohr, was assaulted by reggae star Buju Banton because of Mohr's Christian beliefs. The incident occurred in the lobby of Cleveland's Omni Hotel when both artists were on tour. Cleveland police were called after Banton punched Mohr in the neck and then swung a knife at him. Earlier to the assault Christafari had been acclaimed as being the first Christian band ever to perform at the prestigious Reggae Sunsplash Tour alongside mainstream reggae acts Big Mountain, Wailing Souls, Aswad and Buju Banton. Christafari's performance drew rave reviews.However, midway through the tour a member of the Sunsplash production crew found a copy of a book Mohr had written, Rastafari And The Bible. The book was passed around to almost everyone on the tour. Commented Mohr, "We went from being everybody's best friend to being excommunicated and called a 'tool of Satan'. People I'd revered and honoured and who had been some of the biggest musical influences on me now hated me. It was really tough."
Things came to a head with the knife assault by Buju Banton - a committed Rastafarian and one of the world's most popular reggae artists. Mark Mohr declined to press charges against Banton when the police explained that if found guilty of assault Banton would be deported and would not be allowed to work in America again. Said Mohr, "I really felt the Lord leaning on my heart that I could not expect (Banton) to understand the God of forgiveness and grace if I did not demonstrate that myself."
Christafari decided not to make their usual trip to Jamaica this year because of the events that took place on the tour. Said Mohr, "I'd be marked for death. They would literally kill me on sight. Even if one person heard from Buju they'd kill me because according to them, in their songs, it is the biggest honour to kill somebody for disrespecting their God."
Banton has reportedly passed along Mohr's book to the Rastafari elders in Jamaica. Commented Mohr, "(Banton) says this is prophecy fulfilled, that someone would stand against their god. But I see it as God distributing the truth. Even if the 500th person who reads it has one doubt about their (Rastafarian) faith because of one Scripture they read, then it's worth it."