“I Said Put Me In Cuffs, So Everyone Could See What’s Happening To The Culture”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A picture of Junkanoo legend, Quentin Woodside, better known as Barabbas circulates. In the picture, Barrabas could be seen in handcuffs being led away by police officers at the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade, leaving fans confused and outraged.

So what led to the tense moment?

We caught up with Barabbas Monday at his Junkanoo museum, and he alleges his group Barabbas and The Tribe was being treated unfairly by a parade official.

Woodside says fun groups normally fill long gaps in the parade, but when it was time for his group to line up, they were stopped.

Quentin “Barabbas” Woodside – Leader, Barabbas and The Tribe

“We didn’t come there off our own, a member of his team call us to line up, and then the police got involved. So the police was back and forward between he and I, and so the police say he had to make a decision, and the decision the police made was in his favor.”

After coming to a stalemate, Barabbas tells me he had to take a stand telling officers this.

Quentin “Barabbas” Woodside – Leader, Barabbas and The Tribe

“If that’s the case, if I can’t take my group down the street, and take these people home and back to the hotel, it’s cheaper you cuff me so the people could understand what’s happening in this country with this culture.”

Barabbas says he was later released from custody, and while he has no issue with police, he says he reached out to the commissioner for a follow-up report.

Quentin “Barabbas” Woodside – Leader, Barabbas and The Tribe

“So the lady came from his department, she say this man didn’t do anything wrong, this man did not do anything wrong, that is my fault, I was the one who went in the back of the market call them to line up.”

Despite having issues with the parade and his brief detainment, Barabbas and his group still participated, eventually joining another fun group; the Sting, to rush.

Now looking back, he says he wasn’t happy about how the whole parade unfolded.

Quentin “Barabbas” Woodside – Leader, Barabbas and The Tribe

“As a Bahamian I’ve been in Junkanoo for 60 odd years, this was the worst Junkanoo in my life. This was the worst, worst ever.