source: http://cbs11tv.com/local/Rainbow.Lounge.TABC.2.1063513.html
Jun 29, 2009 5:50 pm US/Central; Compiled From Staff Reports
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ― Members of the North Texas gay community are angry and they want answers. News of a Saturday night raid of the Rainbow Lounge nightclub on South Jennings Avenue has sparked an outcry.
Images posted on the Dallas Voice website have generated strong emotions from the community.
Fort Worth police say early Sunday morning members of their department, along with two officers from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, conducted a raid at the brand new bar near downtown Fort Worth.
Police say five people were arrested for public intoxication and at least a dozen more were restrained. The incident was captured on camera and posted on local blogs. The scene was topic of conversation at Sunday’s Million Gay March in Dallas, and the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas released a statement following its Sunday morning worship services.
“After more than a generation of progress, this action shows that there is still much work to be done to ensure that all Americans enjoy ‘equal protection under the law,’” the statement reads. “It is tragic that lesbian and gay taxpayers are still abused by the very people who are paid by our taxes.”
The community is upset because the raid happened on the 40 year anniversary of the “Stonewall raid.” That raid, of a New York bar, is said to have launched the gay and lesbian civil rights movement.
Raymond Gill was at the bar early Sunday morning. He says one of the TABC officers targeted him. “I asked him why I was pulled outside. He stated it was because the way I was walking. He said I looked like I was drunk. But as I stated, I got to the bar 30 minutes before they got there. I sat down had not got up before police got there. No one saw me walk.”
On the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse, on the exact day that sparked the gay and lesbian civil rights movement 40 years ago, the gay community of North Texas gathered to once again rally for their rights.
“Everyone was just rattled by this, and scared. It’s just not something I expected to see in 2009,” witness Todd Camp said.
Camp was among several others inside the Rainbow Lounge, when Fort Worth Police and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission conducted a bar check just after midnight.
“I’ve worked in gay bars in four different counties in Texas. I’ve never seen anything this aggressive,” club bouncer Justin McCarty said.
Those arrested have been identified as 23-year-old Rene Crosby, 23-year-old Dylan Brown, 23-year-old Joshua Taylor, 41-year-old George Armstrong and 31-year-old Jose Maczas.
Joshua Taylor spoke with CBS 11 News about the raid. “I just approached one [officer] and said, ‘Excuse me, sir, can I ask what he’s going to jail for?’ That was it,” Taylor said. “He just pointed at me. ‘PI.’ He spun me around and that was it.”
“Rest assured the people of Fort Worth, or the government of Fort Worth — will not tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens,” Fort Worth Councilman Joel Burns said. He’s now calling for accountability.
Monday, we talked to Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks. “We do not want that the reputation as someplace that is not inclusive,” she said. “And as long as it’s on my watch, we’re going to ensure that’s the case.”
The incident left a man hospitalized with a head injury. Chad Gibson, 26, remains in serious condition with bleeding around the brain. Witnesses say several officers threw him to the ground during the inspection.
Meanwhile, Fort Worth police say the club was just one of several inspected late Saturday night. In a statement, police say the department is conducting a thorough internal investigation into the allegations, as well as the allegations against the officer. If you witnessed the police raid, you are urged to call the Fort Worth Police Department’s Internal Affairs Office at 817-392-4270.
Cleveland Pride 2010.
June 26, 2010.
12:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Voinovich Park.
Cleveland, Ohio.
