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A national gay rights group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Department on behalf of 19 people who say they were illegally searched and detained during a late-night raid on a crowded gay bar.The lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal and other groups contends that the police department backed an illegal policy of searching and detaining every patron of the Atlanta Eagle Bar, regardless of whether they were suspected of a crime. It said terrorized patrons were forced to lie on beer-soaked floors while police conducted background checks and hurled anti-gay slurs.
None of the 62 patrons were arrested during the Sept. 10 raid on the midtown Atlanta bar, but eight employees were charged with code violations.
Roger Bhandari, the city's attorney, declined comment because he has not yet reviewed the lawsuit.
Police officials, who also declined comment, said at the time they were responding to anonymous tips alleging drug use and sexual activity at the bar. Police records show that undercover officers had also been to the club and witnessed men having sex while others watched.
The raid has galvanized the city's gay community, leading upset activists to host rallies, prod Atlanta's mayoral candidates and file complaints claiming the officers used excessive force and anti-gay language. The legal challenge is the strongest step yet, calling for a stop to similar bar raids and financial damages for the victim.
"The police thought they could get away with something that is so blatantly off the chain illegal," said Dan Grossman, an attorney for several of the plaintiffs. "They thought this was a soft target of people who wouldn't defend themselves, but they would do this to anyone."
Four plaintiffs said they didn't see any illegal activity at the bar at the time of the raid, and that the patrons were enjoying drinks, watching TV and playing pool when the police came in. Several said they thought the bar was being invaded by criminals, not uniformed officers.
"My first thought was, 'We're getting robbed,'" said Geoffrey Calhoun, 35, who is a 911 dispatcher. He said he felt "dehumanized" by the raid.
Mark Danak was relaxing at the bar after his weekly choir practice and had just asked the bartender to flip the TV to the Georgia Tech football game when he heard an officer shout "Hit the ground." He said he spent the next hour with his face on the floor.
"I'm sorry, that was not right," said Danak, a 38-year-old IT operator. "When rights get violated like this, people need to stand up."
The lawsuit seeks police documents detailing how often these types of raids are conducted and asks a federal judge to block them. Gerry Weber of the Southern Center for Human Rights said doing so would be a first step in delivering justice to the bar's patrons.
"It's not about gay or straight, black or white," said Weber. "It's about innocents being treated as criminals."
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On the Net:
http://www.lambdalegal.org
Atlanta Police Department Sued Over Gay Bar Raid
A national gay rights group filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Department on behalf of 19 people who say they were illegally searched and detained during a late-night raid on a crowded gay bar.The lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal and other groups contends that the police department backed an illegal policy of searching and detaining every patron of the Atlanta Eagle Bar, regardless of whether they were suspected of a crime. It said terrorized patrons were forced to lie on beer-soaked floors while police conducted background checks and hurled anti-gay slurs.
None of the 62 patrons were arrested during the Sept. 10 raid on the midtown Atlanta bar, but eight employees were charged with code violations.
Roger Bhandari, the city's attorney, declined comment because he has not yet reviewed the lawsuit.
Police officials, who also declined comment, said at the time they were responding to anonymous tips alleging drug use and sexual activity at the bar. Police records show that undercover officers had also been to the club and witnessed men having sex while others watched.
The raid has galvanized the city's gay community, leading upset activists to host rallies, prod Atlanta's mayoral candidates and file complaints claiming the officers used excessive force and anti-gay language. The legal challenge is the strongest step yet, calling for a stop to similar bar raids and financial damages for the victim.
"The police thought they could get away with something that is so blatantly off the chain illegal," said Dan Grossman, an attorney for several of the plaintiffs. "They thought this was a soft target of people who wouldn't defend themselves, but they would do this to anyone."
Four plaintiffs said they didn't see any illegal activity at the bar at the time of the raid, and that the patrons were enjoying drinks, watching TV and playing pool when the police came in. Several said they thought the bar was being invaded by criminals, not uniformed officers.
"My first thought was, 'We're getting robbed,'" said Geoffrey Calhoun, 35, who is a 911 dispatcher. He said he felt "dehumanized" by the raid.
Mark Danak was relaxing at the bar after his weekly choir practice and had just asked the bartender to flip the TV to the Georgia Tech football game when he heard an officer shout "Hit the ground." He said he spent the next hour with his face on the floor.
"I'm sorry, that was not right," said Danak, a 38-year-old IT operator. "When rights get violated like this, people need to stand up."
The lawsuit seeks police documents detailing how often these types of raids are conducted and asks a federal judge to block them. Gerry Weber of the Southern Center for Human Rights said doing so would be a first step in delivering justice to the bar's patrons.
"It's not about gay or straight, black or white," said Weber. "It's about innocents being treated as criminals."
___
On the Net:
http://www.lambdalegal.org0
More than 100 people braved the rains Saturday afternoon to gather at Atlanta City Hall at the second rally to protest the police raid of the Atlanta Eagle last week, outraged by the alleged harassment of the patrons in the bar as well as the eight men arrested. A first rally was held Sept. 13 in the parking lot of the Eagle. With a makeshift cover of a large tarp for speakers to stand under as the rain poured down for nearly an hour, citizens demanded answers from the police department, elected officials as well as Mayor Shirley Franklin, who has remained silent on the issue since the raid of the gay leather bar occurred Sept. 10.
Speaking first was the APD’s LGBT liaison Officer Dani Lee Harris, who said while she can’t comment on the investigation, the allegations raised by those in the bar that night have her concerned as well. Harris did not find out about the raid until contacted by the media. Chief Richard Pennington said last week Harris should have been involved in the investigation from the beginning.
Yes, it was the only gay bar targeted this time. However, in the past few years, Atlanta has helped shut down Backstreet, Metro and the Phoenix. Yes, there have been illegal activities at these clubs, but do you believe these activities don't occur at clubs where most of the patrons are heterosexual? This is the gentrification of Midtown Atlanta to be "safe" for affluent heterosexuals moving here now that it is one of the most appealing parts of town, due primarily to efforts of the gay community. Not to mention how it's already cleared some prime real estate for more profitable construction.
Police have said the raid was prompted by two anonymous tips alleging sex and drug activity at the bar. During the raid, eight employees were arrested on business license violations. The 62 customers in the bar at the time were forced to lie on the floor for as long as an hour while they were searched and checks were run on their identification. No one in the bar was arrested on sex or drug charges. Police have promised a full investigation into formal complaints filed by several patrons and employees of the bar who allege they were mistreated and subjected to anti-gay slurs during the raid. Today's protest was the second since the raid. On Sept. 13, several hundred turned out for a rally in the Eagle's parking lot, then lined the street in front of the bar to cheers from passing motorists. READ THE COMPLETE STORY: SOUTHERN VOICE
Crowds Gather In Heavy Rain At Atlanta City Hall To Protest Gay Bar Raid
More than 100 people braved the rains Saturday afternoon to gather at Atlanta City Hall at the second rally to protest the police raid of the Atlanta Eagle last week, outraged by the alleged harassment of the patrons in the bar as well as the eight men arrested. A first rally was held Sept. 13 in the parking lot of the Eagle. With a makeshift cover of a large tarp for speakers to stand under as the rain poured down for nearly an hour, citizens demanded answers from the police department, elected officials as well as Mayor Shirley Franklin, who has remained silent on the issue since the raid of the gay leather bar occurred Sept. 10.
Speaking first was the APD’s LGBT liaison Officer Dani Lee Harris, who said while she can’t comment on the investigation, the allegations raised by those in the bar that night have her concerned as well. Harris did not find out about the raid until contacted by the media. Chief Richard Pennington said last week Harris should have been involved in the investigation from the beginning.
Yes, it was the only gay bar targeted this time. However, in the past few years, Atlanta has helped shut down Backstreet, Metro and the Phoenix. Yes, there have been illegal activities at these clubs, but do you believe these activities don't occur at clubs where most of the patrons are heterosexual? This is the gentrification of Midtown Atlanta to be "safe" for affluent heterosexuals moving here now that it is one of the most appealing parts of town, due primarily to efforts of the gay community. Not to mention how it's already cleared some prime real estate for more profitable construction.
[MEDIA not found]
Police have said the raid was prompted by two anonymous tips alleging sex and drug activity at the bar. During the raid, eight employees were arrested on business license violations. The 62 customers in the bar at the time were forced to lie on the floor for as long as an hour while they were searched and checks were run on their identification. No one in the bar was arrested on sex or drug charges. Police have promised a full investigation into formal complaints filed by several patrons and employees of the bar who allege they were mistreated and subjected to anti-gay slurs during the raid. Today's protest was the second since the raid. On Sept. 13, several hundred turned out for a rally in the Eagle's parking lot, then lined the street in front of the bar to cheers from passing motorists. READ THE COMPLETE STORY: SOUTHERN VOICE
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Atlanta Police said they are conducting an internal investigation following a Thursday night raid at a popular Midtown Atlanta gay bar. A police spokesperson says they’ve launched an internal investigation in response to multiple complaints about officer misconduct during the raid at the Atlanta Eagle.
Bar patron, John Curran said, “They were really rough and aggressive.” Curran adds, “I heard one police officer say he ‘hated gay people.’”
Police said they raided the Ponce De Leon Avenue nightspot after receiving multiple complaints from neighbors about “public sexual acts.” Police arrested eight people for not having proper permits, including five male dancers. The club remains open to the public.
An independent rally-style demonstration in protest of these actions is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, assembling at 5:00 p.m. in the Atlanta Eagle parking lot (off Argonne Ave. behind Ponce de Leon Ave.).
After a short summary statement, those who were allegedly harassed during the incident will be invited to share their stories, if they wish to do so.
Following this, the group plans to conduct a short, peaceful march to the steps of City Hall East at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., for reading of one or more additional prepared statements.
A statement by a representative of GLBTATL will specifically address the conduct of Atlanta Police Department officers in this incident, and will include an open invitation to APD to address these issues in a civil and direct manner. obertson, intervened.
Update: 8 Arrested in Raid at Atlanta Gay Bar
Atlanta Police said they are conducting an internal investigation following a Thursday night raid at a popular Midtown Atlanta gay bar. A police spokesperson says they’ve launched an internal investigation in response to multiple complaints about officer misconduct during the raid at the Atlanta Eagle.
Bar patron, John Curran said, “They were really rough and aggressive.” Curran adds, “I heard one police officer say he ‘hated gay people.’”
Police said they raided the Ponce De Leon Avenue nightspot after receiving multiple complaints from neighbors about “public sexual acts.” Police arrested eight people for not having proper permits, including five male dancers. The club remains open to the public.
An independent rally-style demonstration in protest of these actions is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, assembling at 5:00 p.m. in the Atlanta Eagle parking lot (off Argonne Ave. behind Ponce de Leon Ave.).
After a short summary statement, those who were allegedly harassed during the incident will be invited to share their stories, if they wish to do so.
Following this, the group plans to conduct a short, peaceful march to the steps of City Hall East at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., for reading of one or more additional prepared statements.
A statement by a representative of GLBTATL will specifically address the conduct of Atlanta Police Department officers in this incident, and will include an open invitation to APD to address these issues in a civil and direct manner. obertson, intervened.
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Texas' liquor board fired two agents and a supervisor, disciplined two other supervisors and changed several policies in the wake of a raid at a gay bar that left a customer with a serious head injury, officials announced Friday.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said agent Christopher Aller and agent trainee Jason Chapman, who participated in the June 28 raid at the Rainbow Lounge, were fired Friday. Their supervisor, Sgt. Terry Parsons, was not at the Fort Worth bar that night but also was fired, effective Sept. 2.
Aller and Chapman failed to report that they used force when arresting the customer or that he was seriously injured, according to a report on the agency's investigation released earlier this month. They also were accused of participating in the raid without their supervisor's approval, disrupting the business during the raid and wearing improper attire, the report states.
Parsons failed to ensure that the agents submitted a report on using force during the arrest, did not take appropriate action after learning they didn't wear proper attire during the raid and did not notify supervisors that multiple arrests had been made that night, the report states.
The commission said Parsons' direct supervisor, Lt. Gene Anderson, would be suspended without pay for three days and be on probation for six months for his lack of monitoring the training of new agents and inadequate oversight of his employees and their activities.
Also, Capt. Robert "Charlie" Cloud, who oversaw the Dallas and Fort Worth TABC offices, has received a written reprimand for not following the incident notification policy, inadequately monitoring new agents' training and inadequately supervising Fort Worth employees and their activities, the agency said.
In announcing the disciplinary actions Friday, the agency's chief of field operations, Joel Moreno, said he was confident that Anderson and Cloud could make the necessary improvements.
3 Fired Over Raid On Gay Bar
Texas' liquor board fired two agents and a supervisor, disciplined two other supervisors and changed several policies in the wake of a raid at a gay bar that left a customer with a serious head injury, officials announced Friday.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said agent Christopher Aller and agent trainee Jason Chapman, who participated in the June 28 raid at the Rainbow Lounge, were fired Friday. Their supervisor, Sgt. Terry Parsons, was not at the Fort Worth bar that night but also was fired, effective Sept. 2.
Aller and Chapman failed to report that they used force when arresting the customer or that he was seriously injured, according to a report on the agency's investigation released earlier this month. They also were accused of participating in the raid without their supervisor's approval, disrupting the business during the raid and wearing improper attire, the report states.
Parsons failed to ensure that the agents submitted a report on using force during the arrest, did not take appropriate action after learning they didn't wear proper attire during the raid and did not notify supervisors that multiple arrests had been made that night, the report states.
The commission said Parsons' direct supervisor, Lt. Gene Anderson, would be suspended without pay for three days and be on probation for six months for his lack of monitoring the training of new agents and inadequate oversight of his employees and their activities.
Also, Capt. Robert "Charlie" Cloud, who oversaw the Dallas and Fort Worth TABC offices, has received a written reprimand for not following the incident notification policy, inadequately monitoring new agents' training and inadequately supervising Fort Worth employees and their activities, the agency said.
In announcing the disciplinary actions Friday, the agency's chief of field operations, Joel Moreno, said he was confident that Anderson and Cloud could make the necessary improvements.
"The first step is by working more closely with their employees, mentoring them and serving as positive role models by exemplifying the agency's four cornerstones: service, courtesy, integrity, and accountability," Moreno said in a statement. "It is essential that every employee understands our core value: We do the right thing, not what we have the right to do."TABC Administrator Alan Steen, who will make the final decision on any appeals, was not available to comment Friday, agency spokeswoman Carolyn Beck said. The five may protest their disciplinary actions by submitting a written grievance in the next 10 working days. Aller, who had worked for the agency for five years, and Chapman, who was hired in April, had been on desk duty during the investigation. Parsons had planned to retire Sept. 2 after completing 20 years with the agency but had been using vacation time. Another sergeant will be transferred from the Fort Worth to the Dallas office next week "for the betterment of the agency and to create change in the office," but that is not considered disciplinary action, Beck said. Aller and Chapman accompanied six Fort Worth police officers on a raid of the Rainbow Lounge in what police initially billed as a routine liquor license inspection for a new business. Six people were arrested for public intoxication, and one patron, Chad Gibson, was hospitalized with a severe head injury he suffered while in the agents' custody, the agency and police have said. Gibson was hospitalized for a week but has said he has a blood clot behind his right eye. Since the raid, the agency has changed several policies — including how it uses force in certain situations — and is shortening agents' shifts, increasing cultural diversity training and reviewing the agent trainee field training program, Moreno said. Many of those changes were in the works before the raid, Beck said.
"Most of these were not as a direct result of this incident, but we hope they will prevent a similar incident from happening," he said Friday.A report addressing whether the agents' use of force was appropriate during the raid is expected to be released in September. Associated Press Reporting
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Law enforcement officials arrested more than 500 people, and took custody of 48 juveniles in a coordinated 29-city weekend sweep aimed at combating child prostitution, the FBI announced Monday. Task forces made up largely of state and local police officers arrested and booked what authorities said were 464 adult prostitutes, 55 pimps and 55 customers on state charges. While most faced local charges, a senior FBI official said he expected there were would be some federal charges as well.
The FBI Monday said 19 searches were conducted, netting a total of $438,000 in cash, plus illegal drugs, cars and computers. The four dozen juveniles were recovered in the third phase of Operation Cross Country, an initiative that seeks to help child prostitutes and crack down on people who control them and patronize them.
In the previous coordinated operations, authorities recovered 21 alleged child prostitutes last June and 47 in October. In 2003 the FBI, Department of Justice prosecutors, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children launched what was called the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address what had become a growing problem of children forced into prostitution. Many were young runaways. Officials say the 32 Innocence Lost task forces formed nationwide have now recovered about 670 children in the six years, and seized more than $3 million in cash. The most recent operation involved law enforcement agencies in several states including California, Alaska, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, Alabama, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota and Arizona.
Prostitution Raid
Law enforcement officials arrested more than 500 people, and took custody of 48 juveniles in a coordinated 29-city weekend sweep aimed at combating child prostitution, the FBI announced Monday. Task forces made up largely of state and local police officers arrested and booked what authorities said were 464 adult prostitutes, 55 pimps and 55 customers on state charges. While most faced local charges, a senior FBI official said he expected there were would be some federal charges as well.
The FBI Monday said 19 searches were conducted, netting a total of $438,000 in cash, plus illegal drugs, cars and computers. The four dozen juveniles were recovered in the third phase of Operation Cross Country, an initiative that seeks to help child prostitutes and crack down on people who control them and patronize them.
In the previous coordinated operations, authorities recovered 21 alleged child prostitutes last June and 47 in October. In 2003 the FBI, Department of Justice prosecutors, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children launched what was called the Innocence Lost National Initiative to address what had become a growing problem of children forced into prostitution. Many were young runaways. Officials say the 32 Innocence Lost task forces formed nationwide have now recovered about 670 children in the six years, and seized more than $3 million in cash. The most recent operation involved law enforcement agencies in several states including California, Alaska, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Oregon, Alabama, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota and Arizona.
