Another gay bar raided

[gdude30]

No problem Frankfrank. It was on the news again this morning.

Also I one of the employees explained that on the ticket (reason for arrest) the reason was because of nude dancing. Since when the fuck is dancing in your underwear nude :/

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27165

This is the latest article on SOVO that talks about the rally. A little more information is revealed as well. I had no idea that the reason the police ran an ID check was because they COULD NOT find any drugs or weapons.

The police tried SO DESPERATELY to pin something on them but they failed. And arresting a guy for being in his underwear and calling that nude. Tell that to the fucking PG movies that call that comedy or "slapstick". :/

The owner of the eagle also plans on filing an official complaint. I hope others do as well. It did look like a good size rally and this is also showing Atlanta, "THERE IS A LEATHER COMMUNITY". And once pride comes around than it will really show. Even though I wish this diddn't happen to a certain extent "NO ONE GOT HURT" and it was an eye opening experience and an important one. It also shows the ignorance and stupidity of the Atlanta Police.

I hope this makes the rest of the gay community see the strength and honor of the leather community and not just think of them as "the freaks" or something like that.

I have a feeling sometimes late tonight or tomorow morning the result of the official complaint will be made. And if the police rip it and tear it up. Than they are just digging their grave.

Here is a video of some of the speech that the owner gave.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

There's a good report on WABE, Atlanta's NPR station:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/w...stigation.into.Police.Raid.of.Atlanta.Gay.Bar

It looks like the APD GLBT "liason" is going to be pretty useless. Nobody in the police department bothered to talk to her before the raid, she didn't know anything for two days, and now she's just parroting the police department party line.

 

[gdude30]

THANK YOU!

In a press release, APD said there had been no formal complains lodged against officers involved in Thursday night's raid. But another patron involved, Garrett McLendon, says those complaints will come Monday. He told the crowd that if anything, the raid strengthened Atlanta's LGBT community.

"This has totally backfired on the police department. Rather than be what they thought it was going to be, it's galvanized people, it's brought people together, and not just in the gay community, but in the community at large.

Protest organizers say they're not yet finished, and plan to take their concerns to Tuesday's Atlanta City Council meeting. They encouraged everyone in the crowd to sign up to address the council. The Eagle's owners say they're contemplating filing a lawsuit against the city and the Atlanta Police Department.

I have sort of heard rumor that people are getting lawyer. I had no idea that the owners plan on suing the police and the city though. I'll be interested to hear about how the council meeting goes tomorrow.

They are totally fucked.

 

[saymyname]

And what did the rally accomplish? Nothing has changed..He's preaching to the choir. He needs to get out in front of the police station and raise hell. That's the only way you make things happen. Block the entrance to the police station to get on the news hopefully national.

Right. Not by legal action, or whatever... Here are your words back, feel free to eat them now.

 

[swerve]

I'm SO DISAPPOINTED in MY city...

I remember WAY BACK when Shirley Franklin was FIRST running for mayor...

Well -- BACK THEN -- she came to BACKSTREET -- YES a gay MEGABAR that was CLOSED DOWN under her administration...

She was asking for donations and support...

Even though my partner and I live OUTSIDE of the city limits -- we supported her financially -- because we thought she would bring a POSITIVE change to the city...

SINCE THEN -- She ALSO oversaw the closing of the PHOENIX -- another POPULAR gay bar on Ponce De Leon (same street as the Eagle)!!!

It REALLY saddens me that she has CAVED IN to the BIG MONEY people that have moved into the REJUVINATED (by GAY people) neighborhoods of Atlanta...

We've ALSO been to the Eagle many times over the years -- and I just suspect that ATLANTA -- MY CITY -- is turning its back on us...

Oh -- and there is NO DOUBT that the Mayor AND Chief Pennington (fromer New Orleans Police Chief who I HAD admired) approved this raid...

It really REALLY saddens, and; unfortunately, ANGERS me...

 

[gdude30]

According to the local Fox affiliate, an official IA investigation is underway. The police are saying there were specific acts and illegal dancing going on and that the bar was observed over several weeks, I believe. However, they're not being specific at all. If that's the case, it doesn't explain why patrons were treated the way they were.

Another alleged police slur: After the police searched everyone, they sat in the middle of that bar and were heard saying, "This was great! We should do this to a fag bar every night!" or "every week" or something. Keep in mind, this is alleged.

I'm convinced this will be a huge PR fiasco for the city.

Thanks for the update Jav.

Here is the link to the newest article about the "undercover operation" that went on a few months before the raid.

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27196

The police are trying a new angle now. It doesn't make sense why they diddn't arrest the people who were having sex to begin with. And it's a fucking gay bar. People grab ass and cock. Not all of them are gonna do it in there though. I'm sure shit like that happens at a straight bar sometimes.

I almost wonder if the police were getting off on it if they went so many times to watch the sex but not arrest it.

I do believe the police's little game with "CATCH THE FAGS", "CLOSE DOWN THE GAY CLUBS". That sounds exactly like the police mentality in Atlanta.

But the fact that the police CLAIMED "We have good relationship with the GLBT community" BULL FUCKING SHIT.

They might have been okay if they focused on the sex that went on and the illegal dancing and getting tips. But they just fucked themselves over by claiming they have a good reputation with the gay community and still not really caring that the patrons were face down and searched.

And what doesn't make sense is why no one was arrested even at the raid it was only for the illegal dancing.

"We do not promote or condone discrimination of any kind,” he said. Pennington added that when he became police chief, “I met with the GLBT community … we have a great relationship, an outstanding relationship. And we take these complaints very seriously.”"

Now it's turning into a blaming game too. The fact that they used a squad that is used for drug dealers and gang violence is a hint that someone high sent the order. Even though the article says the mayor was not involved the complaints came straight the mayor's office.

I can sort of see what's going on here. And it's sickening. But what they tried to do failed. And even if they want to post pone the trial because "the police at the raid were missing." No one is going to rest until this is resolved.

I am glad that the facts are finally here.

 

[gdude30]

Okay another big update. As I suspected more facts are being revealed.

This time it's actually something really important. The actual "Text" (Not cell phone but written) complaints were shown. They are only two complaints but they are very extreme.

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27208

I saved them incase they get removed or something.

First of all for the first complaint. That whole event was part of "Atlanta Bear Fest". Yes it was a circuit thing but there was no mention of SELLING DRUGS OR SEX PARTIES ON THE WEBSITE. That is fucking bullshit and that is lie. I looked up and researched Atlanta Bear Fest because Blow Off was something I was gonna try to go to until I realized it was 21+. Bastards. I did not know about the eagle closing and than re-opening though. THAT I am not sure if they are allowed to do. But even so the police did not mention that or arrest them for that reason. Also there was no mention of nude dancers.

From the detailed complaint. I have a feeling that the one who wrote the complaint is someone who has something against Robby, the eagle, and possibly the bear or leather culture. And who might even be gay. The fact that he knew what southern bears, circuit parties, and bear 411 were.

So in other words the first one was personal. And it's easy for the police and others who don't know about gay life to believe if someone lies and says that circuit parties and fests are all about selling illegal drugs and sex parties.

Now as for the second one.

This next one sounds like a complaint from a radical soccer mom or something. They actually said that if someone complains that the owner of the eagle uses speakers to PROJECT sounds of men having sex. What in the fuck. That is such extreme bullshit.

And that the eagle has sex parties wow. Now it is true that sex does go on thursday nights but it's in the black out room. Unfortunately it is in view for some people to see outside of the eagle. But it's not done purposely for that reason. And even so it's not right that EVERYONE gets treated like a criminal. And the drug thing. Ugh.

And what fucking bar isn't loud. Even Blakes and everything else. Drunken men acting like idiots when leaving the bar. And that's not only at bars.

Unfortunately the eagle is not exactly innocent. It is not so much a leather bar anymore. That needs to be stated first. It used to be but with the new owners not really leatherfolk it's more of a bear bar. Also any club that has a black out room or night pretty much means sex. So I'm sure some do sex in the bathrooms or black out rooms wherever that is or happens.

But still it wasn't right to treat all the customers that way. And also it sounded like hype more than anything else. This is how it sounded to the police.

"The eagle has sick perverts having sex, dancing nude, doing drugs, and harassing neighbors and using speakers to force people to listen to their loud sick sex and how the national guard needs to be sent to stop it."

Because of the undercover work and the officers getting off on watching the guys have sex (or at least that's what I think) and the complaints.

It all led to thursday night raid. That is the reason for the red dog unit, the rough treatment of everyone and the heavy handedness.

So that part is explained. So to a certain extent maybe it isn't so much the police's fault since it was blown way out of proportion by at least two people.

However, the GLBT officer wasn't informed of anything and was useless, the fact that the police called them fags and made a game out of it and enjoyed it and the fact that they were ARRESTED for other charges than they were originally complained about and that they kept changing the charges.

That's the real problem and the fact that in more than one ways the police broke some laws. Also the fact that the police were so hellbent on finding evidence for new crimes or laws that were broken were kind of outrageous. They had all the evidence they needed.

They could have said that they are arrested for allowing sex parties, harassing the neighbors and etc. That would have been a little more believable.

In other words. It makes more sense why what happened happened. But it's still no excuse.

So now that all the facts are on the table and that the truth is out. Now it's time to take action. I guess the next awaited news is the court. Even though I believe that got postponed for two weeks.

But it makes me wonder. Maybe there needs to be a few changes at the eagle. Even some gay men are commenting now that the eagle is sick place for just sex and drugs and needs to be shut down. So to a certain extent no one is really winning right now.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

Well,the first tip only describes what the tipster thought was going to happen in the future. It's not an eyewitness account of something that actually did happen.

As for the second tip, it deals strictly with complaints by neighbors (or possibly just this one person) about what can be seen and heard outside the bar. Surely the best way to handle this would have been to a) interview the neighbors and then b) talk to the bar owner about nuisance abatement.

As you yourself point out, nobody was in fact arrested for doing any of the things described in the two complaints. So it's all bullshit.

I refuse to believe that police would order a massive raid of a straight bar based on the kind of evidence provided in these two anonymous complaints. No, they were not justified in doing what they did.

EDIT: And PS, when the police run warrant checks on every single patron of a bar and come up with nothing -- that's not what I would call a disreputable establishment! Sounds like lot of middle class Atlanta gays channeling their inner leatherman.

I'm pretty sure I could walk into the (straight) bar down the street from me and find at least one guy who had an outstanding warrant of some kind...

 

[gdude30]

Well true. But apparently the first tip was someone in the GLBT community who was knowledgeable and able to twist things around. But for a straight person or people who don't like gays and know nothing of the gay community it's easy to twist it and use it against us. Again I think the first complaint was a personal one against the Eagle or the owner.

Of course they weren't justified. And they had all the evidence before the arrest them but they decide to go later and arrest them for different and bullshit things. They lost the validity they had before by harassing the customers and treating them the way they did and than denying them right, insulting them, and treating everyone like criminals.

However,

EDIT: And PS, when the police run warrant checks on every single patron of a bar and come up with nothing -- that's not what I would call a disreputable establishment! Sounds like lot of middle class Atlanta gays channeling their inner leatherman.

I'm pretty sure I could walk into the (straight) bar down the street from me and find at least one guy who had an outstanding warrant of some kind...

For some reason I don't understand what you mean right there.

Also. ANOTHER NEWS UPDATE.

Action is being taken by the Georgia Equality.

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27214

They are questioning the mayor.

I'd love to see how the police and mayor respond to this.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

Oh sorry, I'm under the sign of incoherence today. What I meant was, they made all the customers lie on the floor while they ran warrant checks on every one of them on their laptop. And came up with nothing.

My point was, what are the odds of that happening? A room full of guys and not one them is wanted for anything? Not even an unpaid parking ticket?

It kind of shoots their theory that this bar was a den of iniquity. That's all I was trying to say...

 

[hotatlboi]

Heard on the local news that 11 formal complaints have now been filed.

And there was a protest at the city council meeting today.

 

[gdude30]

Well. I don't really know what to think anymore.

I emailed everything that i have gathered so far and summarized everything as well as my opinions and questions. I emailed all this information to some leather people I know who visit the eagle and people who are very familiar with it. I got back different responses in different colors each representing a different response.

I was sort of starting to wonder this after I read everything if maybe the police were right.

I'm still young and I'm still trying to learn things and see the truth of things and see past the bullshit and beyond what is put on display infront of us.

Lately I have started to see past it though and see the truth of what's around me. With this, I was waiting til I got all the facts first til I made a final decision. Now I've got the opinion of others.

The majority if this. First FACTS about the eagle. These actually surprise me.

Robbie (The owner) ACTUALLY does play porn music to people who complain about the noise and sex of the eagle. THURSDAY NIGHT IS FUCK AND SUCK NIGHT. Drugs do happen at the eagle. They don't have a license for dancing which clubs and bars in Atlanta have to have.

And PEOPLE GO TO THE EAGLE'S ON THURSDAY FOR SEX. It's public knowledge. Also. Someone from Southern Bears was the original one who complained and said that the after hours party was a sex party. And it was ACTUALLY an after hours sex party. However it was a PRIVATE PARTY. That somewhat disturbs me that someone from Southern Bears would sell out the eagle which hosts their group meetings. The first complaint was DEFINITELY personal.

The second complaint was justifiable. Since sex does happen on thursdays, the owner does blast porn music to the neighbors who complain and drugs are done. And I'm sure the men are loud after they leave the bar. The fact the owner blasts porn music really really surprised me.

On the other hand. What the hell kind of neighbors would move into an area that has a bar nearby. Even if it is gay bars are noisy, sex goes on, and it's wild. People know this. So it's kinda their fault for being there but

Now as for not arresting them when they were having sex. That was to build the case. Which might be illegal and they might be supposed to stop something when it is in action.

The reason they did not catch the men having sex either was because the sex doesn't start til 1 around the eagle. So to a certain extent. They came when the customers were innocent and just dancing, drinking beer, and watching tv. If they had come a few hours later this whole situation would be very much different and The Eagle and the people at it wouldn't appear to be victims.

So now back to the situation. It is very much true that the police did not have a right to do background checks. HOWEVER, because their offense and reason for arrest wasn't clear yet they were being held. So the police did not need to give them a right to use the phone.

The only offenses that the police really did was by illegally checking everyone's background. It was the owner's fault for not having a license.

And as for the so called "derrogatory" comments and the "It felt like it was stonewall", "I felt like a second class citizen"

I think that was blown out of proportion. No one was innocent at the bar really. Not on a thursday night.

Whatever people want to call the Eagle. Thursday nights are suck and fuck night. It's as simple as that. Yes there are other nights that aren't about sex and even demos for S/M, The bears meet there, and some other groups do as well. The Eagle also sponsors many things.

But unfortunately SEX does sell. So I don't think it's going to change anytime soon. But the eagle might be in threat of closing down with everything that's happened.

I know I've heard it countless times, "It's not longer a leather bar". Apparently what it used to be was really good but the fact that is has changed so much. Even if people do have good memories there what it once was is kinda gone.

Maybe it would be better if it shut down and a REAL leather bar opened. Or maybe someone should leave the eagle as it is and open up a real leather bar.

I don't think I'll update this anymore. I've got my closure on this and I've got opinions and facts from both sides and got my answers.

All this is now really. Is a bunch of queens wanting to start some drama or using this as an excuse to further support Gay Rights Movements. And quite frankly I think that's somewhat dishonorable.

However, this being said. The question is was it really worth raiding the bar when other crime is going on. If the neighbors kept giving police so much hell and complaining so much than they really did not have much of a choice.

So except the two things that were violated and maybe are illegal. Everything else the police did was justifiable.

That's all.

 

[hotatlboi]

^ HUH?!!

Are you the Atlanta PD's new PR schill?

No one was innocent at the bar really. Not on a thursday night.

Whatever people want to call the Eagle. Thursday nights are suck and fuck night. It's as simple as that.

Complete bullshit. First of all, this is the first I've heard of Thursday being "sex night" at the Eagle. That sounds kinda suspect to me, but even disregarding that cause maybe I'm just ignorant, so you are saying you KNOW that EVERY person there that night came explicitly to have sex, despite their statements to the contrary (including several who were just visiting from out of town)?

That's the most absurd statement I've heard anyone make on EITHER side of this issue. Are you high?

All this is now really. Is a bunch of queens wanting to start some drama

So now you know that everyone there was a drama queen.

Maybe it would be better if it shut down

I honestly can't believe I'm reading this. Sure, wouldn't it be great if the police could force all the gay bars to close for trivial permit violations.

I'm still young and I'm still trying to learn things and see the truth of things

Uh, ok. Try a little harder next time.

 

[memfuzz]

i was in the parking lot at backstreet when the raid began, but i no why they did it but i will miss the music and dancing

 

[SonOfSlobone]

i was in the parking lot at backstreet when the raid began, but i no why they did it but i will miss the music and dancing

You're probably talking about the raid on the Backstreet bar in Memphis, which I wouldn't mind hearing more about. There hasn't really been any info about it on JUB.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

gdude30, again, whatever the police thought was going on at the Eagle, it apparently wasn't going on when they raided it. So at a minimum this is sloppy police work.

And ID checks aren't illegal so far as I know. Once the police detain you for probable cause they can certainly run your name through their computer. Just as they would do at a routine traffic stop.

In fact, given the 2 anonymous tips, the police may not have done anything technically improper at all. But it certainly was bad police work and very bad community relations.

 

[gdude30]

Hotatlboi. It is ignorance to not know that Thursday night at the eagle has always been fuck and suck night. It is advertised as underwear night. But everyone who goes to the eagle knows what it means. Now i do think if someone has never been there before than that would be an acception.

But the reason the police came was from the months of the sex, blasting the porn music and the complaint of the neighbors vocalized as two complaints, and the fact that they were building evidence and the case.

But as you said because no one was engaging in sex at the time I'm not sure if it was exactly right for everyone to be on the floor and searched and than have their background checked.

However.

WHAT PROOF IS THERE THAT THE POLICE WERE BEING HOMOPHOBIC. There really is no proof of that. There is no proof that a police kicked a guy in the knees or something like was said.

But what there is proof of is what went on at the eagle before the raid. And there is also proof that the eagle is nothing more than a sex party late late on thursday nights.

If you know people who go to the eagle frequently or have been there late thursday nights you would know that that's what underwear night is really about. And most just stay in the backroom.

But LIKE I SAID. Saturday Nights, other nights. Those nights can be used for events, group meetings, contests, and dj dance nights or something.

But it is also the owner's fault for NOT having a permit for dancing. If he did have a permit than his patrons wouldn't have gone through what they had gone through. Well the police wouldn't have had much ammo.

The fact of the matter is that the eagle has exposed itself to the police. And because the eagle exposed itself this gave the police a window of oppertunity. That being said sex goes on at other bars. I know the heretic is one. Hell even straight bars sometimes.

The unfortunate thing is the eagle's location is somewhat in a neighborhood. They have less freedom to be wild and loud because of neighbor's. Other bars that are on chesire bridge or something don't have to worry about that.

I really doubt that EVERYONE at the eagle was visiting from out of town. And even so. For the reputation the eagle has. The friendship that gay men have with others. Most of them would have known that the eagle is infamous for sex nights on thursday. The Atlanta Eagle isn't the only eagle that has that. I believe the DC eagle used to have it.

The problem is that both sides are not innocent. They both left themselves vulnerable and did things that were wrong. So they are both trying to defend their own side. And it's hard to tell which side is right at the moment.

This would this be different if the police came at 1 am and caught all the patrons having sex in the back. Would the gay community, the lawyers, and everyone defend the patrons who were pinned down on the floor then?

That's the problem I have with everything. The checking ID and treating the patron's badly was pretty much the owner's fault. Because he did not have a permit for dancing and he left himself vulnerable.

It's also to an extent the owner's fault for being stupid as to actually blast porn music to neighbors who complain to get them back. Did he really think that wasn't going to come back to get him?

The problem is that most people are viewing it as "THE POLICE RAIDED THE EAGLE FOR NOTHING. THEY TRIED SO HARD TO FIND EVIDENCE AND ARRESTED THEM AND TREATED THE PATRON'S HORRIBLE. THOSE BASTARDS"

But there was a reason for the raid. And as for the evidence they weren't able to catch anyone in the act of sex or doing drugs yet.

The dancing thing really could have been the police trying to bully the bar though. But the owner SHOULD HAVE HAD A DANCE PERMIT.

If you are running a business you need to make sure you have permits incase something happens.

Now with all this being said. I do feel sorry for some of the patron's who were there and really were unaware of the sex night at the eagle.

But the need to rally, get the media's attention, and make a huge commotion out of it wasn't necessary. But to a certain extent because they did so the truth came out and the reason the raid happened was explained. If that never happened than everyone would have been in a dark and would have had no idea what happened.

And yes it was somewhat sloppy police work slobone. And I'm still not sure if the police were required to arrest them when they caught them having sex originally.

But anyways. Neither the eagle or the police are truly innocent at the moment.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

The Southern Voice is Atlanta's gay paper and the place to check for updates on this case.

http://www.sovo.com/

Here are 2 recent articles:

Citizens speak out to City Council committee about Atlanta Eagle raid
Second rally set for Saturday at City Hall
By DYANA BAGBY | Sep 16 2009, 1:31 AM

What happened at the Atlanta Eagle was not about a dancing permit nor is it simply a gay rights issue, said Laura Gentle as she took the podium Tuesday to speak to members of the Atlanta City Council’s Public Safety Committee.

“The civil liberties of 62 patrons were broken,” said Gentle, who is straight. “They [the APD] have failed to make the connection from what led to the raid to what those were arrested for. We need answers as a community.”

[...]

On hand for the Tuesday meeting was APD Deputy Chief Carlos Banda who discussed what happened and answered questions from committee members about the controversial police raid. He spoke at the start of the meeting, but remained for the full meeting to listen to the citizen complaints.

According to the police records provided to the media, the tip to City Hall was made May 19 and the Crime Stoppers tip was made July 1. Police reports show undercover officers visited the Atlanta Eagle on May 21 and June 11.

Police reports show Sept. 10 was the third time undercover officers visited the bar and undercover sergeants at the scene made the decision to call the raid and request the Red Dog unit to help with arrests, Banda said.

“While in the establishment they witnessed some sexual activity … and code violations … and they asked the Red Dog unit to come in and help with arrests,” Banda said.

The Red Dog unit, dressed in paramilitary gear, was used to assist in arrests because the undercover officers feared the men in the bar might not believe them if they said they were police officers, he said.

Co-owner Richard Ramey has continually denied the allegations and also stated that if there was illegal activity taking place in his bar, police officers should have made arrests at that time instead of waiting and detaining and searching his 62 customers, none of whom had any illegal drugs or weapons on them.

Because formal complaints have been filed and there is an ongoing investigation into what happened, Banda said he could not comment much more. He did say six other clubs — none of them gay — in the past three months have been raided in similar manners to the Atlanta Eagle, including people being forced to lie on the ground, searched and arrested.

[...]

Steve Gower, who is gay and a member of the Midtown Ponce Security Association, is known for policing Midtown and posting videos of alleged transgender prostitutes on YouTube. He stated the MPSA has never had a problem with the Atlanta Eagle as long as he has been a member.

“In the six and a half years of my core role in the MPSA, alongside with Peggy Denby, I have a bird’s eye view of what the community is telling us. I know every square inch of the MPSA service area, in which the Eagle is prominently located. I have never once received any reports or made any observations even remotely suggesting that crime and disorder in the neighborhood would be attributed to the Eagle. Peggy feels the same way,” he said in a statement.

“From what we can tell, the staff and patrons of that establishment have enjoyed their evenings quite peacefully. We have never observed otherwise, and nobody has ever reported to us otherwise. We feel reassured that of the 62 (?) people that were found to be in that bar during the raid, not a single one had any drugs in their possession – truly amazing!” Gower said.

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27225

Police release copies of complaints against officers in Eagle raid
Some describe rough treatment, threats, slurs
By LAURA DOUGLAS-BROWN | Sep 15 2009, 5:28 PM

The Atlanta Police Department has released copies of nine complaints filed yesterday with its Office of Professional Standards by patrons and employees of the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar that was the target of Sept. 10 police raid.

• One man said officers grabbed patrons who didn't immediately lie down by the neck and forced them to the ground. The man said he was kicked in the ribs while lying down. "Then I heard laughing and giggling and saying this is more fun than raiding niggers with crack. They also told us to shut the fuck up unless we were spoken too [sic]." The man said he heard one person told that if he spoke again he would be hit by a chair. He also reported that one officer "said to everyone in general that all you all do is flash your asses and show your cocks."

• Another patron described listening to officers chat about their cell phone plans as he lay on the ground. "I was forced down by physical force. They grabbed my neck and pushed me down. They put their boot on my back and told me to stay down. … If anyone asked anything they were told to 'shut the fuck up.'"

• Another patron said he saw officers forcing people to the ground by officers pushing their shoulders or the backs of their heads. He said he asked to move because there was broken glass on the floor where he was lying, and he was told to "shut the fuck up." The customer recounted hearing anti-gay slurs: "I heard several slurs such as 'I hate homosexuals.' I also heard 'I don't like fags.' One officer asked me if I was married and had any children, and he told me I should be ashamed for being there." The customer recounted having his diabetes medication, which was in an unmarked container, taken and not returned. He recounted hearing another customer told that if he didn't be quiet, an officer would hit him over the head with one of the barstools. "There were several officers standing over me that started joking about this is a lot of fun, we ought to come back and do this every week." The customer said he heard an officer say pictures of men on the walls made him sick, and make comments about people's appearance, including calling him "big boy." He also said officers were watching the football game on TV during the raid.

• An employee who lives in an apartment over the Eagle, who said he was not working that night, said someone started pounding on his door. He opened the door to two cops who asked if anyone was having sex there. They asked why there was a bed and he said it was because he lives there. He was made to come downstairs and was arrested with the other employees. He recalled hearing comments like "You people are despicable."

http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27222

 

[gdude30]

Okay. Reading the first article and somewhat putting aside the second article for now. Mostly because you have to take what people say that isn't face with a grain of salt.

It was pretty bad and worth looking into that people's right's were violated. Even if it was partially the owners fault. I thought that that answer was resolved but maybe it wasn't. If all else that is something needs to be looked into.

Finally an answer about red dog too. That one is sort of tricky though. For bear and leather bars. Some people have a fetish with uniforms. If they saw a guy dressed as a cop there that might be a turn on. I am not sure how you tell the difference between a cop costume and true cop uniform. Maybe some people can.

However, if that was their actual reasoning for it or not is something that is unknown at the moment. Would they really know that some people are turned on by uniforms or cop fantasy scenes. That doesn't only apply to the gay community but the straight community as well. So that is a possibility. But like I said it's unknown if that was the true reason or not.

Now as for the six other clubs. I am wondering why they haven't complained or brought it to the media. I am unsure if that really relates to this or if that was just an excuse.

So with what the security of ponce are saying. There was never any neighbor complaints or porn music blasting.

Either someone is witholding information or someone is denying something. I just feel that an important piece of information is missing right now.

But now I do see the importance in demanding answers. It's clear that the cops weren't in order when they came but it's still unsure why they had everyone lie on the ground.

I guess that's probably one of the biggest question that needs to be answered right now. But as for the neighbor's complaints. The fact that the security has never heard of that or seen it.

While I don't think the eagle is associated with violence and as for drugs. Those happens at gay and straight bars all over. However, I am sure that some have more drug influence on others and might bring some of that violence into it. While some might just be more recreational drugs.

I still don't think either the police or eagle is completely innocent. But the police did break the rights of those patrons. Yet the eagle continues to have sex openly in public. But with having sex in public and breaking the rights of people. I say that breaking the rights of people weighs down more but not everyone does.

Man this story is so confusing. I'm glad that Georgia Equality is helping to demand answers though. I guess not all the facts are completely here yet.

Still unsure if the complaints the patrons made about sexual slurs, the police being violent and wanting to close down other gay bars are true or not.

 

[hotatlboi]

But it is also the owner's fault for NOT having a permit for dancing. If he did have a permit than his patrons wouldn't have gone through what they had gone through.

I doubt that. It seems to me the police were looking for drugs or sex and when they found neither, they decided to arrest those people for the permit thing so they could stick them with something.

I really doubt that EVERYONE at the eagle was visiting from out of town.

Of course not. Who said anything of the sort?

And even so. For the reputation the eagle has. The friendship that gay men have with others. Most of them would have known that the eagle is infamous for sex nights on thursday.

What evidence do you have that thursday is "sex night" at the Eagle? Why didn't you mention this here before reading the complaint? Are you just taking the complaint at face value? It could be totally fabricated.

That's the problem I have with everything. The checking ID and treating the patron's badly was pretty much the owner's fault.

You keep getting more and more ridiculous. So the police treating people who have done nothing wrong as criminals is someone else's fault.

But there was a reason for the raid. And as for the evidence they weren't able to catch anyone in the act of sex or doing drugs yet.

How do you know so well that drugs and sex go on there all the time? Have you even ever been there?

The dancing thing really could have been the police trying to bully the bar though. But the owner SHOULD HAVE HAD A DANCE PERMIT.

Sure, but that's no reason to advocate for the bar to be closed.

Now with all this being said. I do feel sorry for some of the patron's who were there and really were unaware of the sex night at the eagle.

Really? You just said in your last post that everyone there was guilty because they were there on a thursday, so everyone was obviously looking for sex.