Police say 7 arrested for public intoxication; one man remains hospitalized with brain injury incurred during incident
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| Between 150 and 200 people gathered on the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse Sunday, June 28 — the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion — to protest a police raid on a Fort Worth gay bar, The Rainbow Lounge, at about 1 a.m. that day. Gay Fort Worth City Councilmember Joel Burns told the protesters he has called on Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of harassment and police brutality against bar patrons during the raid. One man remains hospitalized with a brain injury after, witnesses said, several officers threw him to the ground while arresting him. TAMMYE NASH/Dallas Voice |
FORT WORTH — About 18 hours after officers with the Fort Worth Police Department and agents with the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission raided a Fort Worth gay bar, about 150 to 200 people gathered on the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth Sunday night, June 28, to protest the raid.
Sources have said that seven people were arrested in the raid although witnesses at the scene said many more people were handcuffed with zip ties and taken out of the bar.
One man, identified by his sister as Chad Gibson, was in the intensive care unit at Fort Worth’s JPS Hospital with bleeding in his brain after officers threw him to the ground and used zip-ties to handcuff him.
The raid happened on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion.
Joel Burns, Fort Worth’s first and only openly gay City Council member, was in Houston for the weekend, but came back to Fort Worth in time for the rally at the courthouse.
"We want all citizens of Texas and Fort Worth to know and be assured that the laws of ordinances of our great state and city will be applied fairly, equally and without malice or selective enforcement," Burns said at the rally, reading from a prepared statement.
"We consider this to be part of ‘The Fort Worth Way’ here. As elected representatives of the city of Fort Worth, we are 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," Burns said.
In an e-mail communication before noon on Sunday, Burns said he had already talked with Fort Worth Police Chief Jeffrey Halstead who had promised an investigation into the matter. Burns also said at that time that Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks, who represents the district where the Rainbow Lounge is located, and City Manager Dale A. Fisseler were also already aware of the situation.
Noting that the rainbow Lounge raid came on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, Burns said at the rally, "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 its citizens are protected."
Burns said he is working with Mayor Mike Moncrief, Halstead, the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission and "our state legislative colleagues" to get "a complete and accurate accounting of what occurred."
Burns added, "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 known 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 we are all working aggressively toward that end," Burns said.
Lisa Thomas, Burns’ appointee to the city’s Human Relations Commission, also spoke at the rally, as did Todd Camp and Chuck Potter, two men who were at the bar when the raid happened and who were the primary organizers of Sunday’s two rallies.
Camp, referring to eyewitness accounts of the raid and to photographs that Potter took as the raid was occurring, said at the rally that "evidence demonstrates that the Fort Worth Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commissioner over-reacted and used excessive, perhaps brutal force … ."
"The circumstances of the police action strongly suggest that elements of the law enforcement community selectively targeted a recently opened gay and lesbian establishment for selective enforcement and harassment."
Fort Worth police have not returned calls seeking comment placed by Dallas Voice beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. However, Fort Worth police released a statement to several mainstream media outlets saying that Rainbow Lounge was one of three bars targted by six Fort Worth police officers and two TABC agents and a supervisor.
The statement said that nine people were arrested at the first two bars — the Rosedale Saloon and Cowboy Palace, both on Rosedale Avenue — and that another seven people were arrested at Rainbow Lounge.
The statement also said that "an extremely intoxicated patron made sexually explicit movements toward the police supervisor" and that person was arrested for public intoxication.
A second "intoxicated individual" was arrested for public intoxication after making "sexually explicit movements towards another officer," and a third person assaulted a TABC agent by grabbing his groin. That man was escorted outside and arrested for public intoxication, but was released to paramedics because of his "extreme intoxication" and the fact that he was vomiting repeatedly.
The statement said that while some officers were outside dealing with the vomiting suspect, another officer inside requested assistance in handling an intoxicated patron who was resisting arrest, and that this person was "placed on the ground to control and apprehend him."
This person was apparently Chad Gibson, who was knocked unconscious and is now hospitalized with a brain injury.
Eyewitnesses to that incident said Gibson, who is "maybe 160 pounds soaking wet," did not resist arrest but that he did stumble after the first officer grabbed his arm.
Rainbow Lounge owner J.R. Schrock said claims that patrons made sexual advances to the officers and that one patron groped an officer were lies.
"The groping of the police officer — really? We’re gay, but we’re not dumb," Schrock said to the crowd that gathered at the bar Sunday afternoon. "That is a lie, and I am appalled by it.
"They treat us like outcasts. But even outcasts have a time to shine, and this is it," Schrock said, pledging that he would not be "scared away" or intimidated into closing his bar.
E-mail nash@dallasvoice.com
Thanks for the update on this very important story!
Patrons grabbing the police officer’s crotch? Please. This just shows their homophobia with ridiculous statements like that.
Perhaps the LGBT community to consider a boycott of Fort Worth over this type of activity.
The types of charges made by the inexcusably homophobic police are obviously fabricated.
“Hello. We’re hear arresting people.”
“Oh really? Let me `cop` a feel.”
That’s just INSANE.
Any gay bar operating in Fort Worth needs to have a video system that’s flipped on by bartenders immediately whenever a police raid takes place.
Slamming a guy into the ground, particularly if the officers already know he’s intoxicated (remember? that’s why they were arresting him, so they slammed him to the ground?), is an abuse of authority. It comes from bigotry.
There needs to be an investigation, yes. But is the Fort Worth PD capable of it?
Or do all gays simply need to boycott FW until they understand we are people too?
What would happen if these patrons were female…nothing!
Thank you, Dallas Voice, for reporting this.
Friday’s paper carried an article saying “Local Activists are Split on Need for DC March.”
Hello? This event is proof that much more needs to be done. I’ve been to two DC gay marches. There is no doubt that everyone leaves energized, charged up, ready for more local activism, which is what is sorely needed, especially in Fort Worth, apparently.
Those who say there’s no reason to go to DC are taking our progress for granted, and ignoring local conditions.
March! In FW! In Dallas! In Washington!
Beau,
If they were female, the police would flirt with them, ask for their numbers and let them go. How long have you lived in Texas anyway? 😉
Seriously, though, Police professionalism is something that could be greatly improved in Texas in comparison to many other places in the world.
The problem is the police look at Gays and Lesbians like we are the problem to the worlds ills.
We need to remember to arm ourselves with video camera’s and film the police when they are violating our rights and using this evidence to prove them liars.
Then only will the police cease to abuse and assault memebers of the gay community.
I lived in a major southern city and the neighbor two doors down.
Came to my front door and told me he didn’t want people like me in his neighborhood.
After this occurred I was under the scutiny of the police.
I eventually was falsely arrested and charged with a crime.
The d.a. didn’t prosecute me due to the truth coming out.
I was innocent and the people who filed the complaint admitted they lied to my employer to get him to call the police.
My employer settled with me out of court and these people have not worked since this occurred.
But how is that justice they were never charged or arrested.
They were never forced to spend a night in jail.
Never forced to pay a attorney to represent them.
All the while worrying I am innocent and why am I in jail.
See what I am getting at what should have been good enough for me.
Should have been good enough for those so called good christians.
Did I forget to mention my neighbor was a cop.
After everything is said and done I have moved far away from the redneck cousin marrying idiots on the planet.
I live somewhere that my new neighbors have introduced themselves but no one has told me to leave.
So it seems to be a southern thing to hate and depise one’s neighbors and people of color.
By all accounts (except that of the police, who are trying to protect themselves), this was a police riot. The people of Fort Worth should be outraged. A full investigation must be done, and not just an internal police investigation. Police are not above the law. The bar owners and all of those arrested should contact lawyers to prepare civil actions against the city and the police department.
God Bless the Dallas Voice for covering this, the residents for fighting this injustice, and the victim in intensive care.
Don’t hesitate to pressure the police with the fact that reporting false information, esp. in their capacities as officers of the law, carries some tough penalties and imprisonment. The smear they’ve unleashed here is pure evil in its intent, and aimed at all of us.
Anyone suggesting or mentioning to ban or boycott Fort Worth I urge you to absolutely not. This was a few police officers and not the entire city. We stood up and addressed the issue as soon as it happened and we did DAMN good job. This incident will not be swept away. Please, visit us and see what we have to offer. We are a great city and I would call no other place home!
This organized raid is bogus and should not be tolerated by the citizens of FTW. The claims by the officers that patrons made ‘sexual advances’ toward them is ludicrous at best, and the whole ordeal is completely outrageous. To the leadership in the PD and the city, the news has spread quickly, and the nation is watching to see what you do to rectify this sorry situation. And to the PD, the days of bullying minorities without repurcussions is OVER. We WILL NOT STAND for unprovoked harrassment, period. The situation just proves that although GLBT citizens have made countless advances in recent years, we are far, far from where we wish to be. To my GLBT brothers & sisters though, I say, do not let this discourage you, but rather let it strengthen your resolve to further change and equality!
The Fort Worth mayor’s (Mike Moncrief) email address is mike.moncrief@fortworthgov.org. The email for the Fort Worth Police Department is fwpdweb@fortworthpd.com. We need to flood them with appropriate emails to express our outrage over these events. Please make sure that you email them and demand an immediate investigation and punishment of the officers who conducted themselves inappropriately. Don’t send a hate email. Be professional in what you say because that will get our message across without giving them a reason to harm us.
“the laws of ordinances of our great state and city will be applied fairly, equally and without malice or selective enforcement,â€
Really? When? I own a business in this same Council District, on East Lancaster, where all of the homeless shelters are located. I cannot tell you how many times I have called the police to come get the drunkards off of my business property and no public intoxication arrest was made because the officers said, “she/he is not a danger to himself or others.” How many times I have called about panhandling on a prohibited intersection as stated in Fort Worth’s City Ordinance and not one arrest was made. So, please tell me WHEN the City Council is going to see to it that our laws/ordinances are enforced equally. It surely isn’t happening now and I have proof of it. It’s the Good Ol Boy system here in Cowtown supported by the Ft. Worth City Council — the Councilmembers are bought and paid for by the system and none of them rock the boat and make sure that the City operates like it is suppose to. So here you have crap like this taking place. All of their hands are dirty! Every last one of the City Council members, except for Zim Zimmerman who was just elected.
Suzette Watkins
suzetteforcouncil@gmail.com
817-683-0428
I agree with Paul – great idea. Also, I wanted to make one other point. Those of you calling for GLBT citizens to boycott FTW, I understand the sentiment, but that would only do harm to the GLBT businesses that need our support more than ever in light of such events. The community should turn out in even greater numbers to be visible and support GLBT businesses, rather than boycotting. The hope there may be to send a message that we’ll take our business elsewhere, but it might just send the message that homophobic bullies can simply run us off.
The Pugs and Kelly show are going to be discussing this today @ 1:30 on 1360AM air america. Please call in and express your outrage (214) 631-1360.
Why am I not surprised that this is not getting more mainstream coverage???
Made it to CNN (haven’t watched the other cable stations yet).
I heard this upsetting story on CNN this morning and my heart goes out to those harmed by this act of bigotry. It’s time to unite and become a force to be reckoned with in Fort Worth. The country is watching what is happening in your community, and support the rights of all citizens. Shame on the Police of the Forth Worth Police Department and the agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission. They need to be reminded they serve all citizens of their community.
Not surprising in the least. If you want to stop hate crime, start with the police and the politicians. Police harrassment of gay men is a pattern not just in Forth Worth, but in Dallas.
Anyone who has experienced this kind of police abuse first hand knows exactly how this played out. The officers need to be held accountable with civil suits and the Captain that authorized this needs to be fired. Please don’t allow this to fade from memory as though we are expected to ignore this harrasment!
I’m glad to see that “alcohol poisoning” is now considered a brain injury. It’s funny how you are all so incensed that the police went to this bar and did their job – arresting people who are obviously drunk – as they do day in and day out. Boo hoo. Some drunks got arrested. The lesson here isn’t that the police are brutal; they aren’t. It’s that people need to be held accountable for their actions – and while drinking is legal, being drunk in public is not. And seriously, folks. Do you know how stupidly intoxicated you need to be to even catch the eye of a cop? 7 people were arrested out of, what, a couple hundred? Get real. There are far better ways to push forward the gay rigths movement than making this into something it was not.
TABC has been to my bar many times and are always respectful and courteous to our employees and patrons, the police (Gun Barrel City) however are not. I thought this was just and example of small town cops trying to be a bully with a badge. To see this happen in one of the largest cities in Texas is horrible. FWPD should be ashamed for their actions.
Dear Pro Police –
You are an idiot
Sincerely,
God
WTF does Texas have laws about intoxication?
What kind of backass islamic nutball put that law into effect? You can drink alcohol but not get drunk????
Secede already, Texas. And take Alabama with you.
The DALLAS VOICE is LYING again.
The Dallas Morning News reported the attendance accurately:
Dozens protest arrests at Fort Worth gay bar
10:49 PM CDT on Sunday, June 28, 2009
By MATTHEW HAAG / The Dallas Morning News
mhaag@dallasnews.com
Several dozen people marched outside the Tarrant County Courthouse on Sunday to protest arrests made at a gay bar over the weekend.
SEVERAL DOZEN = 3-4 Dozen or 36-48 people, not 150-200 People.
We don’t ask for Integrity. We demand it.
The Dallas Voice is undermining the gay community by propping up these minor protests. QueerLiberaction and other gay-pimps cannot change the conversation about gay rights by lying.
The Dallas Voice should apologize for John Wright’s lying about the Million Gay March attendance and Tammye Nash’s lying about attendance in Fort Worth.
They also lied about attendance at the “Day of Decision March” following the CA Supreme Court decision. There were about 70 people there, not “hundreds.”
It would be helpful to rely on our only gay newspaper for accurate information. When we have to fact-check everything the Voice says with internet blogs, the Voice is no longer necessary.
I am SO APPALLED that the Fort Worth Police Department would choose this occasion to make some kind of ignorant, stupid point to the GLBT Community of Fort Worth. Forty years and it seems not much has changed…
Lets not back down and let this pass…just like stonewall…we need to stand up again and let our voices be heard…40 years later this is still happening. Im in oklahoma and i’ll be there for an organized protest!! whatever it takes!
Well, glad to see that Andrew has yet again voiced his outrage on yet another attendance issue.
His complaints alone should propel our fight for equality by centimeters.
*for those who know me, sit down*
Blake Wilkerson’s voice is lent not to increasing attendance numbers in print but getting in the face of inequality. While his methods may not always be met within the community with open arms, he certainly is beginning to show intense focus on the important issues…. giving a loud voice to issues and working with the system. For that, kudos are deserved.
Step off your high-horse Andrew–here’s a ladder.
I saw this posting on a chat board in the Fort Worth newspaper. “I am a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney. If you were arrested during this incident, I will represent you for FREE of charge, pro bono.
Call my office (817) 732-5297
Julya Billhymer
Attorney at Law”
Thanks, Julya, for your support!
A year ago the bars in Seattle were hit with bomb threats. Instead of staying away, the gays flocked to the bars to show their support.
We should do the same for the Rainbow Lounge. Gays should plan to show up there in mass this weekend to show support of the ar.
Nash –
I read your article in the voice about the raid on the bar in Fort Worth. My question is, How many times has FWPD and TABC raided bars like Billy Bob’s, Billy Miners, or City Streets. All big night club venues in Fort Worth, all big tourist bars. How many arrests were made for public intoxication in those bars, and I really wonder how legal a public intoxication charge is, when it is charged to a person inside a bar. Is the purpose of having a designated driver so you can be legally drunk, and not have to worry about a DWI. If these charges are valid, then it is sending a message that no one needs to have a designated driver, since you can not be legally drunk inside a bar.
I firmly believe that their choice to raid the other two bars in Fort Worth were merely to cover up their choice of selective enforcement. This way they can say they were not targeting a particular group of people, “See, we raid two other bars too, not just the gay one” both I might add are enroute to the gay bar.
If this had been just a random check, they would not have showed up with paddy wagons and zip cuffs in hand. I have been in bars when random checks were done to insure TABC regulations were being adhered to, never were they going through with zip ties in hand. That is what a vice squad does when it makes a raid on a business doing illegally activities, not a random bar inspection.
I have been in this bar twice, and I can say it is a very well run business. They even carded our group, which ranged in age from 37 to 49, to insure that we all had our photo id’s on us.
Good luck with this story
Gary J. Marshall
It is no wonder that we as a gay community have such huge problems getting others to understand GLBT lifestyle. I have been in this HORRIBLE establishment twice, once on the opening night. There are problems of VERY lewd and inappropriate actions, by patrons and the owners of the bar. We cannot go around showing and having explicit lewd sexual acts in public or bars. This is ILLEGAL and for such an embarrasing protest to be held in support of this makes me sick. These were planned and scheduled inspections and the owners of the bar were aware of them.
I am outraged by this incident. Living way up north, I must confess I can’t be there to help support the GLBT business’es in the DFW area. Can someone answer a couple of silly questions for me? 1. Is it customary for the TABC to “inspect” new business’es in the first week of operation? 2. Are all establishments inspected with the same gusto? 3. Does anyone SERIOUSLY believe gays grope cops?
I’m there with you in spirit, solidarity and sincerity. Don’t take it anymore. Hold the Dallas PD accountable.
Dee Ann from ND
i just don’t get it. why raid the place at all? anyway; i wasn’t there but was planning on going but now; i’m not sure if i should go for fear of gettting arrested.
Absolutely appalling!
Rev Dwayne Morgan
Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom
Hey ProPolice:
For your information the arrested civilians weren’t drunk. I know for sure one of the arrested only had one drink that whole night. Quit being obtuse.
If, big IF, they were not doing selective enforcement, one would hope that there’s at least one brain cell in the police department that would have thought: “Hey, with today being the 40th… blah,blah, blah.. Let’s not hit the gay bar today. It might be taken out of context. Instead we’ll hit Jonnie’s Cattle Prod Grille and hit the Rainbow next week….
If they were just doing their job and enforcing the law, fine. Maybe some sensitivity training ? It’s all about perception Officer Bob. If that “raid” was carried out tonight, there probably wouldn’t be the reaction as the date chosen to do it.
Christopher, please boycott. Please. But you should not limit the boycott to Ft. Worth, you should boycott the whole state of Texas! May I suggest moving to California and take as many of your friends as possible. You should stay in California for the rest of your life and boycott! Make Texas pay! 😉
The cops’ claim that a patron grabbed their crotch should be a huge red flag that they’re lying. After they gave someone a brain injury, they went into their default “gay panic” defense. It’s just meant to play to homophobes who really think all gay men want to jump them just cause they have a Y chromosome. Don’t flatter yourselves, pigs! I say, get a good lawyer and sue the sh*t out of them!
I am very sad. I was born and raised in Fort Worth, but skeedaddled out of there right after college and have lived in New York for over 30 years. When friends and family ask why I don’t move back, I usually have some Texas horror story to tell — usually some kind of Bush or anti-gay or anti-woman or religious freak story — but this is the first time it’s been a Fort Worth horror story. I’m sitting here in my gay neighborhood, and at my job which has benefits for my girlfriend, in a city that registers domestic partners and feel pretty smug sometimes. But I would love to live in FW again, just can’t do it. Pro-Police: you have no idea what you’re talking about, just ignorant. DeeAnn: thanks for the sentiments, but this police riot took place in FORT WORTH, not “the DFW area” and it’s not the DALLAS police that need to be held accountable. Fort Worth is not Dallas, thank God. People: please don’t boycott, keep going back and back and back and back to the Rainbow and SHOW THEM.
Astonishing. Does anybody know the names of the police officers?
The officers who caused the head injury should be arrested and charged with attempted murder. With a head injury thier victims life is essentually over even if he lives.
Having been through the Civil Rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s, my concern for this one has been the over the top, beyond all reason hatred involved. With inevitable violence from it. In ‘88 I was in a situation to catch a glimpse of the iceberg. In 2003 I started reading and searching whatever I could find to get a better understanding of the whole iceberg. Who the hell was wagging the country and the world into this multifaceted mess and why?
In discussions at Daily Kos Saturday on the need to move forward faster, I expressed my concern for being better prepared for violence as well as the rhetoric. Having lived through the decades of hidden, and not so hidden, violence against the AA community after the 60’s, I wanted to do better this time. A lot of Daily Kos members were more concerned with not waiting any longer. Then this situation went on the blog in a different diary.
Yes I’m cynical. I’ve been an RN for 32 years and seen a lot of people with their guard down. They great majority of Americans are good and decent folks. It’s a small but determined minority that holds us back. And having worked with sherrifs in a jail situation, I would estimate 95% of them are either in that minority or right at the edge.
This last month I found something that makes me think it is the core behind many of the manisfestations. It is fundamentalism, but with it’s own chilling and infuriating twist. This book was published in January, ‘08. I had seen a Harper’s article on the group the author had discoverd. The book goes much further into their history, etc.
“The Family†by Jeff Sharlet is ugly reading. I think the more people who understand how this group thinks and operates, the better we can outmaneuver them. The caution is that this is the source of that compassionate conservatism that leaves tens of thousands of poor stranded in a flooded city. Sends hundreds of thousands to fight an illegal war, and kills or diplaces millions there.
They don’t care, at all. They hate, completely. No matter what they say, we are to be stopped or destroyed. Whether gay or straight, if we defy their interpretation of God’s will and continue this fight for basic rights and equality for LGBT citizens, we condemn the country to God’s vengeance and bar it from redemption.
We’ve known the mega churches, Dobson and others have been pushing this and have developed a lot of power. They have nowhere near the contacts and allegiances that The Family has built behind the scenes and off camera in DC and around the world. I found the book in the our public library.
Whatever else you do, be prepared for the possibility of violence and how to protect yourselves. I’m very relieved to know you have Joel Burns on the City Council to fight for you from within.
Some where, some place, some time, we will make a place to live in harmony.
Not only should the bar patrons litigate these filthy bullies into the ground- but I hope that there is some plan for a full-frontal march of outrage to the very doorsteps of the FWPD! “Groping” of a cop during a raid? That makes me so angry that I cannot find an adjective to describe it! I am sick of always having to defend Texas to friends in other parts of the country/ planet! Sadly, however, the anti-gay sentiment is NOT confined to Fort Worth. A few years ago, I was treated to a dose of it while shopping at a Highland Park Whole Foods. They use off-duty Highland Park police officers for their store security- and I was verbally confronted, and harassed by the officer- for the crime of having a disabled parking placard. He questioned me as to why I had one- and lied about some new law allowing him to question my medical eligibility for such a placard- and then said that the only visible sign of my being handicapped was the “faggot-pride” sticker on my truck. Response from the grocery store? Nothing. Response from the Highland Park Police? They threatened to arrest me for filing a false complaint against their darling police officer. A person who gets a badge and a gun does so for a reason- because they are bullies, brainless, and want to take out their self-hate on others. FIGHT BACK MY FELLOW QUEERS! Do not allow yourselves to be bashed or attacked- remember where your spine is- and FIGHT BACK!
Oh- and the date of the raid was clearly a message to the queers of Fort Worth that their hate is still here- and that they can do whatever they want to us.
In rebuttal to Andrew: The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports: “A crowd of more than 100 protesters chanted “No more!” from the steps of the Tarrant County Courthouse Sunday evening as they demanded an investigation into a police raid earlier in the day at a gay night club.” (https://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1458523.html?pageNum=6&&&&&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container)
So who is lying — Dallas Voice, Dallas Morning News, or Fort Worth Star Telegram.
I have seen the videos and there were easily between 100 and 200 people there.
Are you so afraid that gay people are gathering in numbers that you want to lie about their numbers?
Later,
Marlin Bynum
I am a police officer that is gay. I was in the bar on the night of the raid. I had a friends with me, one that was visabily drunk. I did not have anything to drink that night myself (thank God). We were in the club to pick up his ID and were sitting at the end of the bar next to the door. As a police officer I was out-raged at what I saw TABC and FWPD do during the raid. They entered the club and just started grabbing people for no reason and started dragging them out of the door of the club. I grabbed both of my friends and left, walking past officers inside the door of the club. We were not questioned even though my one friend was drunk off his A.. We walked past other officers outside and walked to the corner and crossed the street and got into my truck that was parked in front of the club. We were never questioned. I have worked several shifts with the TABC doing bar inspections with them and have never seen them inspect a bar like this unless it was a”pre-planned raid”. When a bar is raided like this, TABC is in charge, Please dont treat all officer as though they are bad. There are good officers that do care out there that want to see change not only in the police department but also in the way the community is worked with. My point to all of this is please do not let this incident get sweeped under the carpet. The law says in-order to arrest someone for PI, that person has to be a danger to themselves or the public. None of the persons arrested appeared to fit that discription. When a person is arrested for PI, we are arresting them to keep them safe from gettig hurt. a drunk person is not that hard to arrest. Of what I have seen of TABC, they act like they are GODS and are always heavy handed. This needs to stop. We need to fight the city and state for our EQUAL RIGHTS.
If the report by patrons is so at odds with the statement given by FWPD, is there any chance that this will get due process? After all a badge carries a lot of authority.
I’m seeing a parallel here. The cops entered a nightclub, acted like a bunch of thugs, abused a few patrons unnecessary and without cause, then proceeded to justify it by claiming they were groped by the patrons. Sounds very much like the justification used for killing Matthew Shepard. “Oh, he put the moves on us, so he deserved to die a horrible ugly death.” Give me a break! The Fort Worth Police are simply following Dallas’ example. And the Dallas PD is the laughingstock of law enforcement nationwide, and it has been for quite some time now. (Let’s see what kind of spin ProPolice puts on this.) The only way to stop organized crime in this city is to abolish the DPD–kill it at the source. I doubt the FWPD would have behaved in such a manner if the DPD did not consistently set such a bad example.
i agree tht there should be a boycott…perhaps, other than the rainbow lounge, all ppl of the gay community and supporters of gays should stop spending anywhere elsewhere in tht particular town…if tht would have a significant effect…i dnt know if there would be a large enough group for a sufficient amount of ppl to cause a reaction…
The same lies from homophobic cops who abuse their position to act on their hate and fear. I pray the young man recovers from this abuse. I am not a big enough person to forgive the asshole in a uniform and his gang bangers for abusing their positions. I hope they spend many years behind bars being brutalized by other thugs like themselves, I will leave it to God to find a way to grant them peace.
You Heteros are crazy and seemingly have lost your collective MINDS.
Perhaps you didn’t get the memo, Heteros:
You can CREATE us, as you have for centuries, but you can no longer ABUSE us for your own jollies.
Got it?
Good.
Every city of any size has a bar where off duty police go to unwind. But these bars are NEVER “inspected”. And harassment comes in many forms. In our city the police would park outside of gay bars and pull over patrons as soon as they got into their cars. I was pulled over after picking up a friend from work, and released when the breathalyzer showed I had nothing to drink. The name of the game is intimidation.
Brother is a cop,
There is a difference between doing your job well and abusing your power….I’ve been in bars before when the TABC showed up…there were never cops with fists full of zip ties and a paddy wagon out front..these cops and TABC didn’t even come close to following the guidelines for inspection set out by the TABC, even by their own accounts of the evening.
Another thing that jumps out at me…….the kid they arrested had obvious signs of a head injury….he had a fractured skull(can’t be dont by simply falling on your face) bruising on his face and was vomiting(a giant red flag!!!) after the arrest. Cops are trained to recognize basic head trauma symptoms….and they chose to make the kid wait….he didn’t receive medical attention in a timely manner…..the kid is lucky he is alive at this point….
I am a Fort Worth resident, I respect the job that the our cops do….but there is nothing about what happened that leads me to believe that these particular cops were doing the job that my tax money is paying for.
why are people being arrested in a BAR for being drunk, wtf.
Hey Beau,
you know I love you, but chances are if the patrons were women not only would they have been physically harrassed, but the chances that someone could have gotten sexually harrassed or raped are pretty high. Cops dont cut lesbians any slack because we are girls, infact I think it can at times make a bad situation worse. Ither way this situation is all kinds of wrong and I for one am tired of being picked on by the folks who are supposed to be looking out for us.
I can’t stand the cops in Fort Worth either. With this said, please stop acting like the victims here. Be proactive instead of reactive. If gays want more respect from non-gays, they don’t need to march all over the place. Just act civilized and normal so you fit into society, which is essentially what you want, am I right? Non-gays do not hold rallys to stop gay movement, nor do they really care when gays have theirs. The more you march, protest, rally, get angry, etc., the less serious everyone will take you. Seriously.
Can’t wait to see the response to this,
No Big Deal
Brother is a Cop,
First and foremost, I think we all can appreciate police officers that are in fact ‘just doing their jobs’ to protect and to serve. Secondly, I’m not here to judge you because of your relationship with a police officer.
I am here, like many others, to express my outrage that things DID get out of hand… and your first sentence leads me to believe that you think a patron hospitalized for a brain injury is ‘really routine’.
While I agree that we need more details and a thorough investigation, one thing is clear — eyewitness accounts are not convincing me that these officers were professional in ‘doing their jobs’.
If Mr. Gibson was not resisting arrest, as indicated by more than one eyewitness, it really doesn’t matter if he was drunk or not when it comes down to evaluating how much force these officers (yes, officers-plural) used to apprehend this ONE 150lbs man.
And one more thing — I think it sucks that you find ANYTHING amusing about this situation.
I’m blown away by this incident, but even more so by some of the comments made. I will be clear…I am a Christian, a lesbian, and a southerner, and I in no shape form or fashion condone the actions of the police. Not all people in the south are hate mongers or racists, any more than all Christians are. It is this way of thinking that leads to situations like the one in Fort Worth. People are people no matter their beliefs, lifestyles, or race. Why can’t we all just get along?
I read from an eyewitness account that one of these “intoxicated” patrons was drinking water when slammed to the ground and held there by about four cops. is this true?
to No Big Deal
yeah and the civil rights marches of the sixties wern’t taken seriuosly either, wake up please…
I know that this looks like a scandal against minorities, but it really is routine. My brother is a FW Policeman, in another district, but they check at least 1 bar every night, and more on weekends. It’s usually to keep the fighting and drunk driving at a minimum before the bars close. I bet not all of the drunk people arrested at the Cowboy bar went willingly, but since they don’t have a multi-colored flag they can stand behind to hide from the law, they aren’t featured in the news.
Several incorrect details have been posted here, only one of which is the badge number of Officer Back- A #3863 has not yet graduated from the Academy. I doubt that number has even been assigned to a specific recruit yet.
I also find it amusing that a lot of people here think that none of those arrested were drunk. Why are they at a bar until the early morning hours, if they haven’t been drinking?
For those of you who may say that I’m biased because of my relationship to a police officer, I assure you I’m not. I begged him not to go to the academy, because I fear for his safety and his reputation. Try to remember that, while things may have gotten out of hand, they were just doing their jobs.
If the patrons groped and touched the police why weren’t the arrested and charged with simple assault, instead they were only arrested and charged with public intoxication. Something doesn’t smell right about this incident. The police need to prove that they were groped and assaulted, but my guess is all that didn’t happen as the police say, which is why no assault charges were filed against the ones arrested. LOL the police didn’t get their stories straight, excuse the “pun”.. LOL.
OGlez, I know exactly what you mean, regarding the police getting their stories straight. My boyfried who dances at The Tin Room, told me that the cops have been in the Tin Room many times, looking for drunks, but nothing ever came of it. Even he, as a dancer, has been questioned a few times, while he was working, when the cops walked in, but Thank God, nothing ever happened. I think the police, only certain ones though, are out for blood, whne it comes to gays, but not all of them. My sister is a cop in Houston and I have a good male fiend of mine who is a cop here in Dallas, and they would never think of treating people like this, regardless of their sexual orientation. It’s unfortunate that a few ignorant ones can make the entire police force look bad, and that is so not the case. There ARE good cops out there, bottom line!!!
This incident does not surprise me at all…
Ten years ago I was a victim of police brutality in Dallas, Tx. I was walking alone going home from TMC, at that time I lived on Reagan St. just 2 blocks from Cedar Springs and I was 1 1/2 from my place, police car turned on his police lights and stopped me, both police got out of their car and asked me where I am going and I told them I was going home and that I was only about a block away from my place and they the police told me to not move and to put my hands on the hood of their police car, so I did and I quickly took my hands off the hood because the hood was HOT, next thing I knew I was tackled down hard by both police officers and they handcuffed me, I told the police that their hood was too HOT to put my hands on and they just replied by yelling stop resisting…!!!
They threw me in their police car and again I tried to explain why I took my hands off their hood because it was too HOT and they just just proceded to take me to jail…I told them again I was only about one block away from home and that if they were concerned of my saftey they would just drive me home and let me go…They just ignored me and drove me passed my house and to jail
…So I figured that I better just go with it because I was afraid that they were to beat me…Oh I almost forgot that the police didn’t even read me my rights, the police just said they were concerned for my safety so I assumed that the police were just going to drive me home but they passed my place and booked me, while I was getting booked being stripped searched two other police officers made a comment by saying to me, by saying you had a good night ha because I had over two hundred dollars in my pocket, they obviously assumed I was a street walker/prostitute, I just kept my cool and told them that I have real job and the police just laughed and prety much said yeah right…So I spend at least 24 hours in COLD jail cell and finally got out on my own recognisance, still shocked by about the whole nightmare, they charged me with public intoxication and resisting…So I hired amy own lawyer because I wasn’t about to allow this false arrest to go on my record…Court date arrived and I made the court date and my lawyer told me that charges have been dropped and that Icould go home now, I told my lawyer that’s was I was originally trying to do is to just go HOME…I wanted to tell the judge from my mouth that I was wronged but my lawyer just told me to let it go because it’s OVER, so I went home and decided to move from Dallas since what happened to me could happen again…I just didn’t feel 100 percent safe with the police, So moved to L.A. California to new and leave this behind me but even after over 10 years I still do not completely trust the police and make it a point to never walk alone when I’m out to the bars…This incident that happened in Ft.Worth encouraged me to file a formal complaint toward those police officer’s that did me wrong…No More Mr. Nice Gay…Equal rights is not a priviledge it’s my right…!!!
Officers arrived at the Rainbow Lounge to conduct the scheduled inspection. The Fort Worth Police Officers who participated in this bar check included the following:
Officer K. Gober, #3656,
Officer J. Ricks, #3484,
Officer M. Marquez, #3655,
Officer J. Jenson, #3731,
Officer J. Back, #3863,
Officer J. Moss, #3722 and Sergeant Morris.
To fd:
Why would anyone be arrested in a bar for being drunk? Sec. 49.02 of the Texas Public Intoxication law states in part:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another.
(a-1) For the purposes of this section, a premises licensed or permitted under the Alcoholic Beverage Code is a public place.
This would seem to nail the fact that the Rainbow Lounge is a public place under the law. However, the really fuzzy part comes in when we ask ourselves did the people they arrested appear drunk enough to endanger themselves or others?
In my opinion, this is the problem with subjective pieces of legislation that allow those with power and authority to act under cloak and dagger. Until I see or hear any evidence that those that were victimized/arrested had put up any kind of struggle, I’ll find it very hard to believe that they were drunk enough to endanger people IN that establishment. Now, if they left the bar and attempted to drive home, obviously there’s cause for concern.
Nevertheless, from what I’ve read, I find it impossible to believe that the force they used on Mr. Gibson was justified.
COPY of letter sent to the office of Mayor Mike Moncrief………
Dear Mr. Mayor:
I am writing to you from Regina, Saskatchewan, CANADA to express my deep concern and disgust in the actions of members of your city’s police department. It will be very difficult for them, the Police Department, or the City of Fort Worth to justify this one. Be aware that this situation and your response is being watched internationally. This is not a local event any longer. The actions that the Chief and your office choose will reflect, not only on your offices, but on the City itself.
The right thing must be done here. There needs to be an immediate suspension of the Sergeant in charge of the misguided raid on the Rainbow Club, as well as every officer that was a part of this mindless action. They are dangerous and, potentially, criminals. This matter requires an independent investigation by a third and unbiased party or agency. Any investigation conclusions drawn by the internal affairs unit of your police department will be suspect if it does not hold the assailants responsible.
A man is clinging to life in a hospital in your city as a result of the overkill of this raid, pardon the pun. We are all praying for his full recovery. His pain and suffering should not go without serious consequence for the suspects who are Fort Worth police! If he dies, the investigation should become a murder investigation! Please don’t think for a second that I, and hundreds of others, are jumping to conclusions in assuming the police are at fault. They obviously targeted the gay population as raids were conducted on many gay establishments the on same night. As well, the police involved had the audacity to conduct this criminal act on a day that is celebrated in gay communities world-wide. This last fact is not coincidence! Additionally, the report your officers gave of being subjected to sexual innuendo or assault is absurd. Furthering this weak, and highly unlikely allegation would be foolish as it only makes the perpetrators look even stupider and more dangerous than they really are.
You have work to do. Do it well.
Regards:
Darryl Browne
….writing from the land of the free, where equality is practiced, citizens are safe, and police act civilly – Canada!
I was at the public forum last night and Chief Halstead seemed much more open to moving forward. I still call upon everyone that was present to contact the Police Department (817-392-4270) and let them know what you saw. I truly believe they want the truth.
Also there was a statement released last night by the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission about the incident, which the chief read from. I tried to get a copy of this release but was told: The Chief of Police read an excerpt from a draft of a press release that should be finalized and distributed tomorrow, and posted on our website. I will add your e-mail address to our distribution list, and make sure you receive a copy as soon as it is released.
Carolyn Beck
Public Information Officer
The chief said he would like to have a GLBTQ liason officer and hoped that someone would volunteer for that position soon.
Please also listen to the comments from the forum from last night that were recorded by a friend who was at the forum: https://tinyurl.com/lh3xqb
I agree the chief is making some major mistake in this. I don’t think he is culturally aware of the offensiveness of the things he is saying. He is in a mode of defense and we need to work in a mode where we can work together. It is time to change the whole tenor of this discussion or we will never move forward.
We have a right to be angry. I am very angry. I spent twenty years in he closet because of crap like this. But I know that there comes a time when we have to sit down with our enemies and try to at least find peace. Let’s keep up the pressure. But lets also give them time to try and find some answers and find a solution.
If they don’t find a solution then I say lets increase the pressure. If we feel that there were civil rights violations then lets get those kinds of lawyers in here to bring pressure. But let’s not just make this a screaming match. Let’s make this a dialogue.
Later
Marlin Bynum
I can’t believe this! Insane. I live in Des Moines, IA and have never seen this kind of treatment by police officers (or ever experienced a “raid”). Makes me glad that I live in a place that values its GLBT community.
Dan, I hear what you’re saying, and it must be nice to have a more peaceful and accepting environment in Iowa. You are so right, as to this situation has already bordered on insanity. I have lived in Dallas, TX for many years now, having also lived in New York City, where I was born and raised and lived in Los Angeles for a while as well. But no where have I seen such agression and anger than in several of the police officers here in Dallas, compared to New York and L.A. I don’t know what it is about the cops in Texas, but it seems to be some type of mentality, be it called “Good ole’ Boy” or Redneck syndrome, I just don’t know what this is. I mean come on, look at what happened here in Dallas a few months ago when Houston Texans football running back Ryan Moats was stopped and harrassed by Dallas police officer Ryan Powell, because Moats was tring to get to his dying mother-in-law and didn’t make it, because officer Powell decided to get all aggressive and angry with him by showing his angry and abusive mentality. Now I now the police in this city put up with a lot of crap from criminals on the street, but these bar patrons are not criminals. Ok, I understand it if they might have been drunk, and yes, certain procedures must be follow, but not to the extent that these patrons were treated—totally unacceptable.
BOYCOTT FORT WORTH! BOYCOTT FORT WORTH! BOYCOTT FORT WORTH!
I will CERTAINLY be ENCOURAGING this as widely as I can. The only way to affect political change is through mass demonstration and fiscal (monetary) punishment. And if you are GLBT and live there, get the hell out. Don’t let your tax dollars go to support this violent homphobic behavior. Once I left, my life, self-image, a self-respect improved greatly. I was raised in Tarrant Co., and their homphobia effected me personally at least twice, so don’t tell ME this is an isolated incident. That is simply untrue. Oak Lawn or Montrose…forget the rest of Texas.
I like the idea of having video cameras in gay bars all the time, and to activate them as soon as any “official” inspection or raid starts. There should be cameras everywhere, activation buttons everywhere, and every bar employee should know how to turn the cameras on.
We in the California Bay Area know how important video evidence is. In Oakland, a white police officer murdered a helpless black guy in January by shooting him in the back, and the cop is getting away with it. The murder was caught ON FILM by several people, the whole Bay Area has seen the video evidence, and yet the cop is still being treated with kid gloves, and is WALKING AROUND FREE ON BAIL. HIs former police department defends his actions, as do his cop buddies, who have committed perjury during the pre-trial hearings in order to justify his violent and racist actions, and theirs. The district attorney is barely doing anything about this case; at the very least, that cop ought to be rotting in jail while awaiting trial. It is outrageous what violent cops can get away with, even though their crimes are documented on film. It is hard enough to prosecute such thugs with video evidence, even in the liberal Bay Area. Without video evidence, guys like that California jerk will always get away with it. They merely will say “I was just doing my job, and the victim was resisting arrest.” Total B.S.
I hope every gay bar in Texas installs video cameras in every nook and cranny, and then sends clear messages to every law enforcement agency in the state that those camers will be ON every single time an “inspection” or raid occurs…even the most mundane inspection. It won’t be perfect protection, but at least you will catch the creeps in action on video, and the whole world will see what happened.
Good luck to the Gay Community of Forth Worth. You have our support!
I know it’s been nearly a week, but we need to keep putting this story out there to “mainstream” and new media, including the recent updates that the police are now taking responsibility for the victim’s injuries.
If you are on facebook, join the “rainbow lounge raid” page. Post about this on Twitter. Send your scoop to Huffingtonpost.com. Enough people don’t know until everybody knows.
The TABC created the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to thoroughly, objectively and expeditiously review and investigate all complaints against TABC personnel regarding allegations of illegal acts and/or employee misconduct.
The Office of Professional Responsibility (Internal Affairs)
* will be a central reporting point for all personnel complaints and investigations
* reports directly to the agency administrator and commissioners
* operates as an independent fact-finding entity to protect the public, employees and agency through a consistently thorough and objective investigative process
* reviews complaints whether written, oral, signed or unsigned, from the public, TABC employees or at the direction of the administrator
* will notify the complainant in writing, whenever possible, once the complaint is received and again when the investigation has been completed
If you have a question at any time during the process, contact the Office of Professional Responsibility:
E-mail: opr@tabc.state.tx.us
Lieutenant Andy Pena
Acting Director of the Office of Professional Responsibility
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
P.O. Box 13127
Austin, TX 78711
512-206-3405
512-206-3207 (FAX)
Are we SURE that Chad had ALCOHOL POISONING or more importantly that he was suffering from a HEAD INJURY?
By describing that the individual who had a head injury as “being treated for alcohol poisoning” obscures the facts not stated such as his blood alcohol level was such and such and that we are sure that the vomiting was not caused by the head injury and nor by the frightening perception that you are being attacked by a group of armed men much heavier than you. Treatment for alcohol poisoning is simply watching for airway blockage and monitoring vital signs.. which is what you might do for a person with a severe head injury on the way to the hospital.
We desperately need to work with these libertarians to relocate and gain a majority in a small suburb like Annetta South or Garrett.
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/LibertyDistricts_USA/
i’ve been to some wild circuit parties up in philly. i might could understand it if the police uniforms were leather and latex. i’m just wondering if these cops still about the soft hand that supposedly groped them. it must have been the big flashlight envy… get real. there’s no publicity stunt in the world that could be more successful than this tragedy. bravo for poetic justice.
The community should continue to demand the firing of these dishonest officers who abused their powers. Their statements stand in stark contrast to those of the dozens of witnesses who were there that night, witnessing their over-the-top abuses. Why are five men required to tackle a slight 150 man who stumbled when he was grabbed by an officer? Why are there reports from females who told the officers they were intoxicated, but were let to go gree, while the officers attempted murder on a 150 gay man? Why did this happen just as the bar had opened for business? Why on the 40th anniverary of the famous Stonewall riot? Why do bartenders there report that they have seen dozens of bar raids for intoxication but nothing whatsoever like this?
There are postings on multiple sites of the real crimes that were happening in Fort Worth that night. Thefts, muggings, carjackings, murders. . . all of these crimes were unaddresses while taxpayer money was wasted so that a few thugs in uniform could participate in a an act of vile bigotry.
Federal investigation now! Fire the criminals in uniform (not even legitimate uniforms–many wore false “State Police” identification–Texas has not “State Police”. Abuse of uniform. Abuse of power. Criminal assault! Federal investigation! Jail terms for the thugs!
We need real law enforcement. . . honest law enforcement. Not the abuse of power and criminal assault that took place at the Rainbow Lounge that night. Justice!
I’ve read a couple of posts on here from the “Brother Is A Cop” and “Gay Police Officer,” and my comments are this: when a person chooses to go to work in a public office, they are ENTRUSTED to protect that public and not intimidate the public at large. There is always a fight to get the public and police force to come together, and this is why people choose to avoid the idea. I think it’s great that one of you has a brother on the force, (my brother is a former FW policeman, so been there, done that) and that one of you is currently a policeman. But, when even ONE officer causes a mess-up like this one, it reflects VERY BADLY on the entire force. In this case, it was numerous officers, so it looks better for us to make a case. It’s easy for the one bad apple to make the others look like bigoted, homophobic, racist or any other God-forbidden person. Not too long ago, a Dallas police officer was shot and killed during a drug bust gone bad. I pulled over to watch the funeral procession (which lasted about 30 minutes because of the attendance for him) out of the hosting church, and I bawled my eyes out and asked God WHY good people have to die so violently. I was shaking the whole day after that. Then, during the same time, there was the cop who tried to be a bad-a** and detained the football star whose mother-in-law lay dying. She passed while he was harassed. I think the death of the good cop was issued to the WRONG one. Sorry. (The bad cop resigned, and I’m sure he feels like dirt for damaging his career.) There is no excuse EVER for treating people badly, and when you are in public office, you have to take an Oath of office and swear or affirm, depending on belief or non-belief in God, and you make that vow. Where does the promise to God get upheld when people are made to feel less than human? It’s NOT RIGHT and we ain’t gonna take it. We’re not just queens, but war machines, as my sign will say on Sunday at the rally. Love thy neighbor as thyself is a serious commandment from God because He knows it’s a tough one for us to learn and it shows us the shape of our hearts. While I’m not here to preach or stray from topic, my whole point is: public office of ANY type means you sacrifice yourself to the public, (even to the point of death) believing them INNOCENT before guilty. The whole raid thing was premeditated just because of the brutality of it AND the exact date of Stonewall. We’re not idiots. I’m not bagging on you guys at all, just reminding of the responsibility you guys take as part of public service. I LOVE YOU GUYS. I will forever hold that the violent force was UNCALLED for because gay people are generally very easy-going. The actions of FWPD and TABC showed bigotry and a hidden agenda that was quickly revealed. It’s great that Ft. Worth has this on it’s history now because it has made a lot of people choose to boycott events and tourism. FW deserves a black-eye. A code of ethics and intense sensitivity training should be doled out while the offending officers and TABC are behind bars themselves…not IN the bars.
i’m so sorry to hear about this kind of things and i pray in the name of jesus chad gibson recovers…
i have a son right now that is in jail he is a va vet
and was in the army and now suffers from biplor
any way he was put in jail june 25-09 because he entered an apartment were he use to live not knowning what he had done as being off his med’s, he went in behind a couple when they entered there home and they went out there back door so he lock them out of there apartment the police was called they had to brack the door down to get him out. 7 policeman they tasered him he weight ever bit 135 then they hit him with there bat.. any way they took him jail put him in a ceil by himself because they said he was mentally ill he had been off his med’s for a few weeks in-sted of taking him to jps they took him to jail i have sence hired a lawyer to get him to the va hospital in dallas
i came in from odessa yesterday on 7-10-09 to go
visit my son and all a long they have told me he was in a ceil by himself to make a long store short
they put a black guy in his ceil and i don’t know why,, are what happen,, but when they brought him out to see me on friday-10 first he wouldn’t tell me what happen but then he told me they put this black guy in his ceil and he
bet me both eye’s were black and swolen and on the right side of his temple it look about the size of an golf ball his nose look to be broke his whole face swolen.. i fell they put that black guy in there for there on entertaiment i’m liv—ed and of course they new thing..
come monday some one had better have some answers are i’m going to picket..
my question??? is do i need a permit to picket aganist the law enforcement of fort worth they need to be trained on mentally illness better
i’m will say a pray for chad!!!!
are how do i get to the bottom of this
Chief Jeff Halstead’s lazy and lackluster response to this incident has been unacceptable. If the leadership of the offending police officers and TABC officials cannot control his men, then it seems nature to me that he himself should be replaced in favor of responsible leadership. First, he accepted the inane claims by the officers that they were “groped”–ridiculus in the face of the violent situation that transpired, and in stark contrast to the reports of the witnesses. Then he claimed his officers were not involved at all–the photos taken that night confirms that they were–one at least was clearly shown holding down a 150 pound man as 5 officers pummelled him. Yes, it is a good thing that Halstead has suspended the joint operations–why to we need to teams of thugs to assault us when one will do? Despiciable acts by cowardly lawbreakers. There needs to be a total shakeup of this police department, and it needs to start at the top–with a commander who had command of his men, not one who believes their lies and denies their obvious culpability.
Gentlemen it would benefit both the homo (Civilians) and hetero (Policemen) to work together on a project that would be productive for both. We don’t ask you to join us that’s a choice, we don’t ask you to love us that’s also a choice but we do ask that you respect us, get to know us, attend some of our benefits and see how we genuinely care about each other, you may learn something about the human heart and maybe even learn to accept and love yourselves.
I have know hot tabc conducts business and by the accounts given that night did not fit the standard. However, there os a lot of misinformation about who got slammed inside and who actually got seriously hurt. It wasn’t the one that was arrested inside that reportedly resisted but the one who was outside. Did he hit his head or was excessive force used and his injury was sustained from that force? Many do not actually know and the ones talking seemed to be the least informed. I, myslef do not know the whole story and will refrain from jumping the gun. Should gay rights be upheld and gays not mistreated by the police? Absolutely! Does being a minority give license to behave any different and be held to a less standard than the majority? No! I have a hard time picturing half the claims suggested actually took place but I also have seen the pack mentality and believe that this incident was poorly managed at the very least. However, who was running the operation? TABC or FWPD? FWPD has done a lot to cast shadow against the TABC prior to the investigation even getting started properly. Is it they are running from a renegade bunch of State Police Officers or trying to shift blame before the investigation is done. TABC will clean house over any wrongs that they did, I assure you! Will FWPD truly admit their part that was handled wrong and do the same? Let’s wait and see…..
OK, to BILL, I have not lost MY mind! I am STRAIGHT. I completely support the GLBT community, so shut the F up. Stop being so defensive. Those cops were WRONG and obviously homophobes. I have quite a few family memebers AND friends that are GLBT and I completely support them. That is who they are and some a-hole homophone cops should not treat my loved ones that way. I go to rallys and meetings to show my support, so back the *ell off! You have no idea how many people support the right to be who you are and I am VERY offended by your remarks! My last note should be that I wish everyone could know how many of us “breeders” support and love all of you that are proud enough to go out and be who you are. This world will eventually turn around, this was shown in the recent voting patterns that were posted yesterday. My point? Voting is important, we should completely get involved in voting, GLBT or not, if you support it then get your behind out there and vote. Vote to protect the community that deseeeerves to be treated the SAME as the “straight” community. I am a fighter for my friends and family, it truly hurts me when a member of the GLBT community makes accusations against ME. Don’t be so narrow minded my friend, I am in your corner, along with many, many more straights. Love/sexual preference etc. does not belong in the political system. That is what you are born with sweetheart and I support you until this whole “issue” is a NON-ISSUE.
Oh yes, the police were doing their
jobs all right — the job of mayhem
and attempted murder and oppression
on behalf of the fundie state, who
murders more people than any other
group in Texas. Anyone else did this,
they’d get the needle. As usual, all
cops are above the law. As if it
being routine were any excuse for the
behaviour. These people are going to
hell, that’s for sure. They post our
congressman’s addresses so they can
get their gas lines cut, they attempt
to overthrow the federal government
because they don’t like our President
being black, they fly their airplanes
into IRS buildings — there’s a word
for conservatives — terrorists.
These cops are just Al-Qaida with a
cross burning for us. All real
Christians support gay rights, as they
do every kind of human rights. As ye
treat these least fortunate amoung ye,
so shall ye be treated in the Kingdom
which is to come.
Gay-bashers, go to HELL.
–Dixie.
gjgcj
How many cops, executives etc are a bunch of fags themselves. This kind of thing makes me sick…we must always stand up for ourselves and keep pushing back the bullies! Time to take more stands against bleep bleeps like that!