Police celebrate Stonewall by brutalizing gays
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The Fort Worth, Texas, police celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot by arresting everybody in a gay bar, even the doorman and those drinking fancy waters or club soda, for "public intoxication" while they themselves used anti-gay epithets. Facebook has already set up
a Rainbow Lounge Raid page on which its mission is explained:
Last night [Sunday, June 28] around 1 a.m., on the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the Fort Worth Police Department raided the Rainbow Lounge and began randomly handcuffing and arresting patrons and shoving anyone who dared to ask why. It was a sobering reminder that on this pinnacle date in the history of gay rights, we still have a very long way to go. I created this group to give folks a chance to discuss it, share stories, pictures, etc.
Dallas Voice -- self-described as "the premier media source for LGBT North Texas -- has been pubishing first-hand accounts of the incident. Click
here, and
here,.
This is the account I find most convincing.
One man was handled so roughly that he appears to have internal bleeding in the brain.
Meanwhile,
a press release has been quickly issued, presumably the Fort Worth Police Dept. that is trying to cover its ass. Apparently, the incident was a routine "alcohol beverage code inspection."
Yeah. That's why eyewitneses are consistently reporting
this story:
I was really confused last night when suddenly, from all directions I see people being led out with zip ties on their hands looking very frightened. It seemed like the officers were provoking their victims as well. One man that had been arrested was standing on the side walk while an officer was being very aggressive and kept pushing the man around and trying to argue with him. The man finally asked him to stop touching him because he was just trying to stand still. It was really bizarre! None of the men that I saw arrested were visibly intoxicated and they all cooperated considering the way they were treated.This will not deter me from going back. I hope all that were arrested are giving them hell now. An injustice was done.
There is a protest at the rainbow lounge at 5 and then another one at the court house at 7 this evening.
The Facebook page also offers first-hand accounts and information on planned protests.
Wendy McElroy
- Monday 29 June 2009 - 03:07:44
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