Atlanta police raid gay bar, arrest 8

[BewareofNick]

The owners of an Atlanta gay bar say their establishment was unfairly targeted by police conducting a raid Thursday evening.

 

Several customers at Atlanta Eagle say they were harassed without prompting. They were forced to the ground and frisked, according to several witnesses.

 

"Our problem is with the way our customers were treated," said one of the Eagle's owners, Richard Ramey.

 

Eight employees of the bar were arrested around 11:30 p.m., charged with providing adult entertainment without a city permit.

 

“I’m thinking, this is Stonewall. It’s like I stepped into the wrong decade,” said Nick Koperski, 31, who had just gotten to the bar when the raid, involving more than a dozen police officers, some in plain clothes, commenced. Patrons at the Stonewall Inn staged a series of riots against New York police in 1969, saying they were routinely harassed because of their sexual orientation. The protests are credited with kick starting the modern gay rights movement.

 

In a statement released early Friday evening, the APD said the city "received several complaints with descriptive information about alleged criminal conduct at the Atlanta Eagle Club located at 306 Ponce De Leon."

 

Eagle co-owner Robert Kelley was among those arrested Thursday, and six of the eight remained behind bars until late Friday afternoon, when two Atlanta City Council candidates, Miguel Gallegos and Shelitha Robertson, intervened, contacting a judge who then set bail.

 

Eagle bartender Chris Lopez said, “Before I knew it I was being handcuffed to [Robert Kelley]. They were going from patron to patron, having everyone turn out their pockets.”

 

Danni Lynn Harris, Atlanta Police's liaison to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community, said the volume of complaints she's received from Eagle customers suggest an investigation is warranted.

 

The raid, conducted by the vice squad, was a result of a tip sent to Mayor Shirley Franklin's office alleging “illicit sex” at The Eagle, Harris said. Ironically, Franklin's election and re-election campaigns were headquartered in space adjoining the leather bar.

 

Harris said no drugs were found, and none of those arrested face narcotics charges.

 

“It just doesn’t make any sense, with all the bad stuff that’s going on in the city,” Lopez said. “It felt like they had to justify [the raid].”

 

Lopez said he didn’t hear any anti-gay epithets from the officers, as has been alleged in several complaints made to Harris.

 

“What I’ve been hearing is a lot of people saying they were verbally abused, with anti-gay overtones,” the LGBT liaison said.

 

Koperski also said he also didn’t hear any homophobic insults, “but that doesn’t mean they didn’t say it.”

 

“I’ve never heard about something like this at a straight establishment,” he said. “I do believe it was prejudicial.”

 

A rally opposing the raid has been organized for 5 p.m. Sunday at the bar.

 

“I’m concerned it’s going to be one of those things that blow up before all the facts are known,” Harris said.

 

Ramey, who said The Eagle has never had trouble with police before, said he may pursue legal action following the raid.

 

“How can I just sit here and let them get away with doing this to my customers?” he said.

 

The APD statement acknowledged "allegations of improper behavior by police officers conducting the investigation" but added no official complaints have been filed with the department.

 

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlanta-police-raid-gay-136646.html

[+ purplekow]

Complaints of illegal sexual acts taking place was the stimulus for the raid. This or some similar pretext is used frequently as the reason for this type or harassment. Non-compliance with governmental paperwork, permits etc, another pretext to allow this kind of activity to be palatable for the citizenry. This kind of state intervention happens from the most local level and most basic business(Hey Joseph in Ga hope you are relocated) to large cities and big clubs like this, when the goal is clearly to drive these businesses elsewhere, so the hypocrites can walk to church without having to avert their eyes and then peeri back with lust and wonder.

[josephga]

Complaints of illegal sexual acts taking place was the stimulus for the raid. This or some similar pretext is used frequently as the reason for this type or harassment. Non-compliance with governmental paperwork, permits etc, another pretext to allow this kind of activity to be palatable for the citizenry. This kind of state intervention happens from the most local level and most basic business(Hey Joseph in Ga hope you are relocated) to large cities and big clubs like this, when the goal is clearly to drive these businesses elsewhere, so the hypocrites can walk to church without having to avert their eyes and then peeri back with lust and wonder.

 

I was emailed this earlier today. right now I'm living at my mothers home outside of Athens and working full time at starbucks but when I relaunch my massage business at the end of the year I plan on staying with starbucks for the insurance and do massages too. I was planning on locating too the buckhead area of Atlanta and defiantly getting the Adult entertainment permit. Also some stricter rules.

[Guest greatness]

Good luck

 

Good luck with your new start.

 

I was emailed this earlier today. right now I'm living at my mothers home outside of Athens and working full time at starbucks but when I relaunch my massage business at the end of the year I plan on staying with starbucks for the insurance and do massages too. I was planning on locating too the buckhead area of Atlanta and defiantly getting the Adult entertainment permit. Also some stricter rules.

[Romann]

Ka-pow!

 

This kind of state intervention happens from the most local level and most basic business to large cities and big clubs like this, when the goal is clearly to drive these businesses elsewhere, so the hypocrites can walk to church without having to avert their eyes and then peeri back with lust and wonder.

 

And there you have it!

[+ purplekow]

Joseph Great to hear you are back on your feet and working hard. Some people when they are down need a hand up, glad there was an outstretched hand to help you.

[BewareofNick]

Rally today to protest raid on Atlanta Eagle

 

Public demands answers from APD on why club was targeted

 

By Dyana Bagby, | Sep. 13 at 5:00 AM | [email protected]

 

Patrons and supporters of the gay leather bar the Atlanta Eagle are gathering today at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the establishment to hold a rally to protest a controversial raid where eight employees were arrested by Atlanta Police on Sept. 10. The Eagle is located at 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. and remains open.

 

The rally will be followed by a short march to City Hall East, located at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave.

 

The APD released a terse statement why it raided the bar on Friday. On Friday night, supporters gathered at the bar in a support of solidarity and held hands and raised their arms in the air to show their strength as community. Attorney Alan Begner is representing the Eagle and expects some kind of legal action to take place, but he was not sure as of Saturday.

 

"I don't usually go to bars, but I heard what happened and had to come," Morgan Eubanks said Friday while at the Eagle. "There's been too many incidents in our town and when something like this happens we need to stand up and let them know we are not going to take it."

 

Brian Hughes, who said he comes to the Eagle every Thursday and Saturday, was in the restroom when he walked out and saw police standing everywhere.

 

"They shouted, 'Stand still!' and 'Get down on the floor!' And everybody got down on the floor," he said. "I was laying on my stomach for around 30 minutes. I got searched once and others got searched two and three times."

 

Hughes said someone shouted, "What is this, Communist Russia? What is going on?" and a police officer told him to shut up and not speak unless spoken to.

 

"Nobody knew what was going on," he said. "Just the treatment they gave us, forcing people's facing down into the floor. And police kicked in the kitchen door even though [co-owner] Robby [Kelley] told them he had the combination. There were at least three undercover officers here, drinking and mingling and doing what everyone else was doing."

 

"It was just harassment. There was no just cause for this raid," Hughes added.

 

Ed Graham is a member of Panther L/L, a leather club that patronizes the Eagle regularly and holds fundraisers at the bar for various AIDS organizations as well as organizations including the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative, PALS and the Grady Pediatric Unit. Graham said the APD should have better things to do with its time rather than raid a gay bar.

 

"In the last couple months students have been robbed at Georgia Tech, a student was shot in front of Spelman and the police want to spend their time raiding a bar?" he asked.

 

Jeff Schade, an organizer of the rally, said he wants to make sure people realize the LGBT community does have allies in the APD.

 

"This is about what happened here and the systemic harassment that we see going on in Midtown," he said Friday at the Eagle.

 

Laura Gentle, who is straight, and also an organizer of the event, said she believes in rights for all people and the raid at the Eagle was "shocking."

 

"I never thought we would have to fight for gay rights in Midtown," she said.

 

GLBT ATL, the grassroots group putting on the march, is also calling on mayoral candidates to address the raid at their debate tonight, which is scheduled to air at 6:30 p.m. on WSBTV. The debate is sponsored by the Atlanta Police Foundation.

 

http://www.sovo.com/today/index.cfm?blog_id=27164

[BewareofNick]

Complaints of illegal sexual acts taking place was the stimulus for the raid. This or some similar pretext is used frequently as the reason for this type or harassment. Non-compliance with governmental paperwork, permits etc, another pretext to allow this kind of activity to be palatable for the citizenry. This kind of state intervention happens from the most local level and most basic business(Hey Joseph in Ga hope you are relocated) to large cities and big clubs like this, when the goal is clearly to drive these businesses elsewhere, so the hypocrites can walk to church without having to avert their eyes and then peeri back with lust and wonder.

 

Here's the official statement from the po-po: (which strangely reads like so much bullshit)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

September 11, 2009

 

The Atlanta Eagle Club Arrests

 

“The Atlanta Police Department conducts routine inspections of city businesses with valid alcohol permits. The City received several complaints with descriptive information about alleged criminal conduct at the Atlanta Eagle Club located at 306 Ponce De Leon.

 

In an effort to ensure compliance with the law, the Police Department investigated the complaints and during the investigation police observed criminal behavior taking place at the Club on September 10, 2009. While the Police were conducting a compliance check it lead to the arrests of eight employees. The Department views all complaints of criminal conduct as serious and will utilize resources to investigate and deter criminal activity in order to create a safe environment.

 

While there have been allegations of improper behavior by police officers conducting the investigation, there have not been any official complaints filed with the Atlanta Police Department. ”

 

Sgt. Lisa Keyes, Atlanta Police Department, Public Affairs Unit

[+ purplekow]

Doesnt this whole thing read like the script of an episode of Queer as Folk. During the mayoral election in Pittsburgh, the Commisioner of Police orders several uncover cops into Babylon during the King of Babylon contest and Brian convinces one of the contestants to flash his penis giving the police just enough to close the place down.

Art imitating life imitating art.

[MsGuy]

That's one hell of a routine compliance check. Over a dozen cops, everybody on the floor and searched, a door kicked in, 8 employees jailed. Aah, what's a little harrassment among friends?

[Txpaytoplay]

A similar situation like this happened in Ft Worth

 

About 2 months ago a similar situation occured at the Rainbow Lounge in Ft Worth, Texas involving TABC. One of the customers was hurt in the raid. After an investigation was conducted several TABC officials lost their jobs. Hopefully an investigation will occur in Atlanta as well.

[Luv2play]

I have friends and family living in Atlanta and have visited the city perhaps half a dozen times in the last decade. I have paid visits to the Eagle perhaps a dozen times but not in the last few years. If what was going on that occasioned the raid was anything like what I witnessed some years ago, then perhaps there were some grounds for a police visit.

 

On the other hand, I am not condoning what police did, in particular making patrons lie down on the floor for half an hour. Also I don't agree with the way the owners and staff were treated by police. Citations could have been given out without the need for arrest and confinement for over half a day.

 

I have always considered mid-town Atlanta to be a gay-friendly area and hope it remains that way. It appears that Atlanta has the resources to address this issue and I hope they work things out. I wish them luck.