The Rastafari movement was born in Jamaica in the 1930s and has since become one of the most powerful global symbols of Jamaica, African consciousness, spiritual connectedness, cultural pride, and righteous living.

Yet the very community that gifted Jamaica one of its greatest identities continues to face systemic and oppressive discrimination, exclusion, and unresolved injustice including: 

• State violence, destruction and displacement in historic atrocities such as Coral Gardens, Pinnacle, and Back-O-Wall;

• Forced cutting of dreadlocks and criminalization of sacred identity;

• Violations of sacramental rights despite legislative provisions;

• Discrimination in schools, workplaces, healthcare, and public institutions;

• Economic exclusion from industries built on Rastafari suffering and innovation such as ganja, tourism, music, ital cuisine, art and craft;

• Cultural exploitation without consent, representation, or benefit-sharing;

• Delayed and inadequate reparations for decades of persecution;

• Lack of targeted recovery support after disasters affecting Rastafari communities eg. the RMO Relief, Rebuild & Rise (RRR) initiative.

The Rastafari Mansions and Organizations (RMO) in Jamaica (See Overview Below) are therefore urging citizens of Jamaica and members of the global community to call on the Government of Jamaica to urgently begin the collaborative development towards enactment of a comprehensive Jamaica Rastafari Rights Act - a national law that will provide:

• Formal Recognition;  
• Protection from Discrimination; 
• Sacramental Rights & Accountability; 
• Reparatory Justice; 
• Economic Inclusion; 
• Cultural & Intellectual Property Protection
• Representation and Ongoing Dialogue.

InI Stand with Rastafari for Equal Rights and Justice.

RMO Overview

Rastafari Mansions and Organizations (RMO) is an umbrella entity in Jamaica, operating under a formal constitution signed by 14 founding organizations in 2022, with the aim of uniting and representing legitimate Rastafari mansions and organizations to advance shared interests; mobilize collective resources towards economic empowerment; support partnerships and progress toward repatriation and uphold the Rastafari creed, “let the hungry be fed, naked clothed, sick nourished, ignorant educated, aged protected, and infants cared for”.