I woke up this morning, and saw this.
"Atlanta Gay Bar Raided, Harassment Seen."
I was both stunned and hardly surprised. Atlanta has a thriving gay population - I'd argue the main gay center of the Southeast.m But we are in Georgia after all. I was both sad, shocked, and incensed. The Atlanta Eagle was raided last night.
The Atlanta Eagle is a gay leather bar. I've never been personally, but never heard anything bad about the place.
From the article by Atlanta Progressive News,
At approximately 11:30pm on Thursday, September 10, 2009, a gay bar in Atlanta, the Atlanta Eagle, was raided by the Atlanta Police Department (APD).
The present writer for Atlanta Progressive News--who had come to the bar to dance--witnessed as several bar staff and male dancers were arrested between approximately 12:30am and 1am and taken away in paddy wagons, but it is not immediately clear why. One source stated he believed it was because the bar did not have a license for the dancers. (CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated patrons had been arrested; no patrons were arrested).
About ten police cars and about 15 cops raided the bar, allegedly looking for drugs.
However, the police were said to have ordered all patrons to get on the ground--including patrons who were just dancing or standing at the bar--and numerous patrons said people were handcuffed indiscriminately.
Bar patrons were furious at the aggressive and indiscriminate treatment and called the incident "harassment."
They had undercover cops, paddy wagons, ID checks, the whole nine yards.
Disgusting.
We're in the midst of a contentious mayoral race here in Atlanta. We need to demand to hear what the candidates have to say about this harassment, and what they plan on doing to ensure our safety.
Where do you stand Kasim Reed?
Where do you stand Lisa Borders?
Where do you stand Mary Norwood?
More Info:
ProjectQAtlanta