Fort Worth Rainbow Lounge Raid - Time to Act is Now!

Equality Texas Requests Fort Worth Mayor Moncrief and City Council Members to Call for Immediate and Open Public Investigation into Rainbow Lounge Raid on Saturday, June 26, 2009.

Equality Texas has been in contact with its members and local city officials regarding the raid on the Rainbow Lounge on Saturday, June 26, 2009 on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall.  We are preparing a an Advocacy Campaign to our Fort Worth members to request Mayor Moncrief and City Council Members to call for an open investigation into the Rainbow Lounge Raid.  With seven arrests and one person (Craig Gibson) critically injured in ICU, an investigation into the amount of force used, the number of officers involveded and the circumstances of how patrons were treated is mandated.  Equal treatment under the law is what we ask.  It is imperative that this incident be investigated by objective standards and the facts be made public.  The investigation should assess the need for both disciplinary and/or prosecutorial action.

For more details of the raid.  Go to Dallas Voice Blog - Instant Tea.

Equality Texas will be releasing its Action Campaign later today - stay tuned.

Below is a statement issued by Fort Worth City Council Member, Joel Burns - District 9.

I want all citizens of Texas and Fort Worth to know and be assured that the laws and ordinances of our great State and City will be applied fairly, equally and without malice or selective enforcement. I consider this to be part of "The Fort Worth Way" here. As an elected representative of the city of Fort Worth, I  am calling for an immediate and thorough investigation of the actions of the City of Fort Worth Police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in relation to the incident at the Rainbow Lounge earlier this morning, June 28, 2009.

It is unfortunate that this incident occurred in Fort Worth and even more so to have occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall protests.  Unlike 40 years ago, though, the people of this community have elective representation that will make sure our government is accountable and that the rights of all of its citizens are protected.  We are working together with our Mayor, Police Chief, the City of Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, and our State Legislative colleagues to get a complete and accurate accounting of what occurred.

Rest assured that neither the people of Fort Worth, nor the city government of Fort Worth, will tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens. And know that the GLBT Community is an integral part of the economic and cultural life of Fort Worth.

Every Fort Worth citizen deserves to have questions around this incident answered and I am working aggressively toward that end.

Fort Worth City Chief of Police Jeffrey W. Halstead issued this press release on Sunday, June 27, 2009.

PRESS RELEASE:

DETAILS AND SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING TO A BAR CHECK AT THE RAINBOW LOUNGE:

On Thursday evening, June 6, 2009, a TABC Agent entered into NPD2 and teamed up with a patrol officer in order to conduct alcoholic beverage code inspections of area clubs.  While they were out, they performed these inspections into the Friday morning hours. At approximately 10:00 p.m., Thursday evening, they stopped by the Rainbow Lounge located at 651 S. Jennings in anticipation of conducting an inspection as this club is newly opened and has not received an inspection before this date.  While waiting on the supervisor to arrive, which is standard operating procedure, the owner of the Rainbow Lounge approached the officers asked if there was a problem.  The TABC agent explained they were waiting on a patrol supervisor to make the scene before conducting an inspection of his establishment.  An inspection at the Rainbow Lounge was not conducted on this date (Friday).  Other locations, however, were inspected as a continuing effort to educate and enforce over serving alcohol to intoxicated individuals. 

On Saturday morning, June 27, 2009, a person identifying himself as the owner of the Rainbow Lounge called the local police station and spoke with a supervisor to ascertain if there was a problem at the Rainbow Lounge.  At approximately 3:30 p.m., a Fort Worth Police sergeant spoke with the owner of the Rainbow Lounge and explained they were conducting alcoholic beverage code inspections in the area.  The owner advised the sergeant officers were welcome anytime to conduct an inspection of his establishment.  The sergeant advised the owner of the Rainbow Lounge that officers would return to the area this evening to continue inspections and would inspect his establishment. 

On Sunday morning, June 28, 2009, at 12:30 a.m., six (6) Fort Worth Police Officers, two (2) TABC agents and a supervisor conducted inspections at 160 W Rosedale (Rosedale Saloon and Cowboy Palace).  This inspection resulted in nine (9) arrests. Once the inspection was completed at these locations, officers proceeded to the Rainbow Lounge.

Officers arrived at the Rainbow Lounge to conduct the scheduled inspection.  Some officers remained outside while some entered the club. While walking through the Rainbow Lounge, an extremely intoxicated patron made sexually explicit movements toward the police supervisor.  This individual was arrested for public intoxication.  Another intoxicated individual also made sexually explicit movements towards another officer and he was arrested for public intoxication.  A third individual inside the lounge assaulted the TABC agent by grabbing the TABC agent’s groin.  He was escorted outside and arrested for public intoxication.  The decision was made to release him to paramedics due to his extreme intoxicated state as he was repeatedly vomiting. While dealing with this person, another officer requested assistance from inside the club as he had an intoxicated individual that was resisting arrest.  This person was placed on the ground in an effort to control and apprehend.  A total of seven (7) arrests were made from the Rainbow Lounge during this inspection.  The total arrest count for the entire evening totaled 16.

Alcohol beverage code inspections are conducted frequently at establishments located within the city limits of Fort Worth.  These are conducted in order to ensure a safe environment for all.  A thorough internal investigation into the allegations made is being conducted as all allegations against officers are investigated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul E. Scott, Executive Director

 

Comments

[Linda Martin]

I wasn't there, but I know that it can seem excessive when you are under arrest and you're a little bit drunk and you don't want to go and you resist, that just makes them try harder to get you to cooperate. The more you fight the more excessive they get. That's the way they do their job. The Gay community is using this just like they do any other altercation where one of their own gets hurt.
I am a woman, and years ago, in another town, during a bout of youthful indiscretion, a Police Officer told me that I was under arrest and I tried to run in my house....4 policemen piled on top of me in a pile of brush. That's what they do when you don't want to cooperate.
It doesn't matter whether he was gay, black, white, green, baptist, catholic, man or woman. He tried to resist arrest. Maybe people should take note. When the police put you under arrest, it's a good idea to cooperate because someone might get hurt. In my case, I got scratched up, but one of the policemen broke his wrist. So, it happens.

[Hanford Searl Jr.]

... Get REAL people!!! There's a LOT of BAD cops!!! I KNOW. As an international, award-winning print journalist of 35+ yrs. in the mainstream-&-gay media on both coasts, including 17 with "Billboard Magazine" in L.A., Vegas-&-here in the Bflo./Rochester, NY markets, I covered the police beat at my 1st. daily. The largest daily in the state of Nevada in Vegas, officers agreed there are MANY bad cops. + my parents were assualted by 3-cops here in my hometown in the early 1960's!!! FILE-LAWSUITS-NOW!!!

[Terri Howell]

Sir,
I want to interject that my mother owned a neighborhood bar in South Houston for over 20 years. In that time we never had a raid or did any of the bars in our neighborhood, straight neighborhood. We were opened after hours for private parties and after hours where no drinks were served but people could continue to play pool and socialize. I never once in that 20 years see TABC come into our licensed establishment.
I truly believe that this is more smoke being blown up our butts to make the citizens of the Ft. Worth community believe that what was done was justified. That is certainly not the case.
Thank you for your help in this matter, yet I truly believe that this investigation is just the beginning. The truth will reveal itself in this situation and that it calls not for a band aid that is being put on this festering matter.
Terri Howell
Texan and Native Houstonian now residing in Bozeman, Montana

[Josh]

Last time I checked every bar is under the same guidlines. You cannot serve drinks to underage people so if you break the law you will get caught and it does not matter if you are gay straight or alien. Stop complaining and comply with the law.

[Yewtree]

Whether or not the raid was justified by under-age drinking, police brutality is never justified - Chad Gibson has a blood clot on his brain as a result of concussion inflicted by the police - that is NOT usual for someone who was resisting arrest.

Also, since the age limit for alcohol consumption in the US is higher than in any other country, I would say that the bar raid wouldn't have happened anywhere else.

[Christina]

If it makes you feel better to assume that any of those men tried to "resist arrest" to justify being beaten; that's disgusting.

Texas is a breeding ground for hate.

[Scocrates]

TEXAS WOULD NOT DARE TO ATTACK JEWISH PATRONS IN A JEWISH LOUNGE, BUT GAYS ...?

Replace the label GAY with the label JEW and the entire western world would be in an uproar. One Jewish organization after another would threaten a boycott of Dallas/Fort Worth as conference centers for professional organizations (physicians, lawyers, teachers, librarians, etc.).

And what do we get? No apology from the police chief and a lecture from the local newspaper, the fairly influential FW Star Telegram. By throwing in a few crumbs, the Public Relations Dept. knows only too well that time will probably work in their favor with gay people being grateful that a little education program may get started some time in the future, and then it’s back to a subtler form of homophobia.

The local press has much to answer for. Imagine the following editorial in the Star Telegram:

“The Police Department informed THE STAR OF DAVID Lounge management in advance that an inspection would take place the night of PASSOVER. Why didn’t the managers educate the officers about the date’s significance? That’s need-to-know information for uniformed law enforcement officers showing up at a JEWISH bar on that date.

It’s also need-to-know for any JEWISH bar patron that laying a hand on a police officer will result in a quick trip to jail.

Drinking to the point of intoxication is a crime even in a bar. Officers tasked with enforcing alcohol laws must make sure local and state statutes are observed regardless of the date on the calendar, PASSOVER OR NO PASSOVER. The residents of Fort Worth who share the streets with bar patrons throughout the city expect as much.

Law enforcement officers also must follow agency procedures to make sure inspections are conducted professionally and legally.

Why would a police supervisor, six officers and two TABC agents knowingly risk their own careers, the reputations of their departments and a public relations nightmare WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY by engaging in targeted or overly aggressive enforcement against a RELIGIOUS minority group? We’re not sure they would, but as we said, there are more questions than answers at this point.”

Excuse me while I go throw up my breakfast–INDEED.

For the original editorial from the Star Ledger, identical with mine, except for the Jewish references, courtesy of Mark Reed, posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 7:27 am, click here:

http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/07/03/letter-from-chief-halstead/#comment-11934