I'll update this as I get more information, but according to Jacob Fader, Mifune's guitarist/vocalist, the mall representative told them, "not here, you're not going to make this statement here." Fader said that the band refused to comply with the man, stating that the place was a public venue built with $15 million of taxpayer's dollars and that they were just expressing themselves as allowed by the First Amendment.

Fader said the mall rep countered that they were on Private Property and that no political expression was allowed in the building. Band members questioned whether the mall agent was also going to have bookstores in the mall remove anti-bush books, or ask the clothing store to their immediate right to remove the "Buck Fush!" t-shirt in the store window. The band began to play another song as the mall rep continued to argue with one band member. The mall rep asked them again to turn their shirts inside-out, and when the band refused to comply, the mall rep. went to the sound board, pulled the plug, and told security to escort the band out of the mall. Fader said that those in attendance were quite disappointed and expressed themselves loudly, and that media were there to capture the events as they unfolded.

Fader says that "it was not our intent to mess with Tri-C or the JazzFest, and that the band hopes Tri-C will see through the Mall's actions and realize what really happened here."

Tower City Center is owned by Forest City Enterprises, a diversified Real Estate Company chaired by Billionaire Albert Ratner, who in the past has donated to Dem. causes including the DCCC, Kerry, Lieberman, and Feingold. I'm waiting for a comment from the mall's PR person, and I'll add their comments once they call back.

UPDATE 1: According to a telephoned statement by Lisa Krieger, General Manager of Tower City Center, "(Both Tower City and the Jazzfest) had similar feelings regarding the event -- that the purpose of the entertainment and our sponsorship was to provide musical entertainment for our guests and as a professional musical group it was inappropriate attire for Tower City and the Jazz Fest. The group was given the choice to turn their shirts inside out and continue to perform for their listeners. They chose not to do so."