I have posted a story about the rallies in Fort Worth today at the Rainbow Lounge and at the Tarrant County Courthouse. See it here.
Tomorrow morning, I plan to go by JPS Hospital to check in with Chad Gibson’s family and get an update on his condition. Then I will post more information in our DallasVoice.com Texas news section, including accounts of what happened from people who were there.
But for now, here are some photos from the rallies today.
Thanks…I was waiting to see the update.
Sorry it took so long to get these photos and the story online. But be sure and watch for more tomorrow and all week long
I cannot say enough about how proud I am
of our brother’s and sisters in Ft. Worth for stepping up today and organizing this rally! Just amazing! Especially Chuck Potter. This man is amazing. I look forward to seeing what he has next. I would like to make a point that may seem controversial but I don’t particularly care….. As long as there are people like Chuck organizing and actually taking a stand I think it is important that Dallas organizations sit back and offer assistance in an organizational capacity only when it is asked of them when it comes to ft worth. There was not a single Dallas based organization that belonged on those steps today unless invited. Ft worth peeps had it covered. That is all I think I need to say and I will leave it at that on that issue. Once again today was just amazing overall and my prayers are most certainly with Chad and his family.
Tammye,
Please report on whether Chad Gibson was actually intoxicated. While this may seem harsh, there are several reasons it is very important:
1) If he was obviously — by sight — highly intoxicated then it was incumbent on the police to handle him with care to avoid injuring him. Just because they are the police, they cannot go around slamming people into the ground for no reason. Ever watch how the police guard a guy’s head when they put him in the back of the squad car handcuffed? They do that because they have a legal duty not to harm an arrestee.
2) If he was not intoxicated or not very intoxicated, then the officers had no grounds to arrest him did they? If they had no grounds to arrest him, they certainly had no grounds to slam him into the pavement.
So, under either version, they had no grounds to slam him to the pavement, which either way, is an abuse of authority under the color of law, which is a crime. But the state of the injured person bears on what actually happened. In other words, it tells us more precisely what the police are guilty of.
And it is not much of a jump to say the police are guilty of something. They obviously “put” someone on the ground. Very hard. Brain injury should NEVER be the penalty for drinking a little too much. That’s the police acting as judge and jury, not acting as the police.
And a boycott of all activities in FW is a very good idea. Maybe we should only attend gay bars there and NOTHING else, ever, if this is how the FW police treats their citizens.
I should have added more about what I meant by “what the police are guilty of.”
If he was obviously intoxicated (and Blood Alcohol Level can give us an insight into this), then the police were acting in an abusive manner toward their arrestees. It was Police Brutality. Excessive Force.
If he was not intoxicated, then they were falsely arresting people. They were arresting people without reason. Why would they do that? Could it be that they do not like gay people? Could it be that they are bigots?
And, either way, I hope that a good attorney represents Chad Gibson. A good attorney can uncover a lot of dirt on bad cops through discovery. Who were their “informants,” if any? When were the “anonymous tips” received? What statements did the police make to one another as they prepared for this inspection? Why were a large paddy wagon and a ton of zip tie handcuffs brought to an “inspection?” I’ve been in bars during an “inspection” and most people didn’t even know anything happened. This was a pre-planned, abusive raid by bigoted police.
Uncovering dirt on these bad cops is something that obviously needs to be done with the TABC and the FW PD.
All our prayers and good wishes are with Chad Gibson for a complete recovery.
And for what good there is in the world to root out the ugly hate that exists in the TABC and FW PD.
Tammye et all,
Pugs and Kelly (from the Pugs and Kelly show on 1360am) are going to be discussing this on the air today around 1:30. I think we all need to call in and let our voices be heard to as wide an audience as possible (considering it is just a blurb in the mainstream). Their radio line is (214) 631-1360.
I totally agree that Dallas organizations should play more of a supportive role when it comes to FTW issues. It’s quite obvious that FTW is capable of organizing it’s own people without the Dallas umbrella. I must also say that after day of marching and listening to motivational speeches, the Dallas peeps felt that this was the perfect time to walk the talk. Marches are great, speeches are great but are we willing to stand up for injustice when it actually occurs? I would also like to note that I was at Rainbow Lounge last night and it’s a great bar. I would say the best way to show your support is to support this bar and all gay bars in FTW. They don’t have a gay bubble to protect them like Cedar Springs.
“I think it is important that Dallas organizations sit back and offer assistance in an organizational capacity only when it is asked of them when it comes to ft worth. There was not a single Dallas based organization that belonged on those steps today unless invited.”
I think that’s just a ridiculaous thing to say. I would think that you would appreciate the support from everyone who came, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or geography.
I think that you are wrong when you say that they didn’t belong. We are ONE community of GLBTQ. No matter if we are based out of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth or as I am Las Vegas. We have more power as ONE community than as several and disparate communities. EVERYONE of us belonged on that court house’s steps if we could make it. Because yes the offense against the community happened in Fort Worth but it was an offense against us all. And as an offense against us all it may encourage other places to do the same UNLESS we ALL react against it. This can not be a localized reaction. It needs to be a reaction that takes our whole community into account. I’m sorry but it effects our whole community everywhere if they get away with this. It shows that we aren’t as strong as we once were with national rallies and it shows that we aren’t as strong as other people who fought for equality because instead of a national response we only respond locally.
I truly hope that the injured man get’s better.
Wolf
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Pride = Protest not profit party!
There is a difference Bob between people coming to the rally and a Dallas organization showing up with a mega-phone and hijacking the lead on an issue not even in their city. The people who are in Fort Worth are perfectly capable of standing up for themselves as they showed very clearly yesterday. I am on the board of Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance and once we discovered yesterday that there was an individual in Ft. Worth that was planning on holding an event we stepped back and they led their own community. We acted in simply a supportive roll in whatever way they needed us. Including showing up at the rally and bringing as many as possible. This is an opportunity to bring the GLBT communities of Dallas and Fort Worth closer together than we have ever been before. And in order to do that it is important for Dallas to act in only a supportive roll when it comes to issues in Fort Worth. What happened yesterday at the court house was a bit like as if the Hon. Angela Hunt went to the rally and stood on the steps talking about Fort Worth. But that didn’t happen because it would have been inappropriate. The same rule, in a sense, applies to the events of yesterday. However, one caveat, if there were no voices from the GLBT community of Fort Worth sounding out about what took place then it would have been appropriate for us here in Dallas to step up and make sure these despicable actions of the Ft Worth police department were addressed. There can be no question that the way forward for the Ft. Worth GLBT community is best determined by the people in that community as long as there are people standing up to take that lead there. I hope this settles the discussion though because there is a man in the hospital and getting answers for the reason he is in there should be our main focus right now.
Wolf, see my last post. I am in complete agreement with you about the need for everyone to be there. It is a matter of not stepping all over the toes of the good people of Fort Worth and allowing the more-than-capable individuals of that city to lead their community through the tough times themselves with the full support and attendance of everyone in Dallas and elsewhere.
Tisha, I agree with you about Rainbow Lounge! Wow! Really cool place. I was there last night as well but whimped out and went home before 10. Yesterday, while wonderful, was exhausting. I will definitly be going back to Rainbow Lounge in the near future. Anyone that hasn’t been there REALLY needs to check it out.
as someone that marched with queer liberaction in ft worth yesterday i can say that those people that i spoke with from ft worth were glad to see us. i personally had several people thank us for caring enough to come over and the ones i talked to were happy that we started marching around downtown ft worth. while we were marching i ran into some friends that were at one of the bars in down town and and they, along with other patrons, were giving us high fives and handshakes as we marched down the street. complain all you want about people hijacking things but i’m proud to have taken part.
Say what you want Brian. The fact remains that Dallas organizations should be acting in a supportive role only unless asked to do more by those leading the charge in Fort Worth. I will say no more on this point because it is unnecessary. This has been discussed enough. Once again, lets turn now and focus on the man in ICU and how we can help those in Fort Worth fighting for their city.
Open Invitation:
Freedom of Speech Night
Tuesday, June 30th
8:00pm to 9:30pm
Buzzbrews Kitchen @ 4334 Lemmon Avenue
Come out and express yourself (5 minutes of uncensored time), in public, and you just might win the chance to express yourself on the radio (Jack E. Jett Show).
You’re right, Damien. It is not necessary for you to say anymore, so keep on back-pedaling.
We should all hope that the WHOLE WORLD will join in our geography-transcending quest for real justice and equality. Most of us would have the sense to welcome that with open arms, rather than turning people off with amazingly silly provincial concerns.
Isn’t it a little crazy to get all tangled up with “who should do what?” I mean, people from all over want to help. Welcome that. Invite that. Accept that. And say, “Thank you for taking the time and energy to pitch in.”
But waaaa waaaaa waaaaa “He talked longer than I did” or whatever is something called “needless infighting.” It weakens the progress toward change and it wastes everyone’s energy.
Allies are not the problem. The FW PD and TABC seem to be the problem. Maybe city government too, if the reports are true that every roadblock possible was thrown up to block this bar from opening in the first place. Is the FW PB taking clues from other councilmembers’ comments? Does the city manager have a problem with gays?
These are the things we need to find out and work on. It’s just total BS to say, “Well, let’s argue about who does what when,” rather than accepting help, concern, moral support, etc.
I’m with Gary.
OMG, Seriously? First……. There has been zero back pedaling on my part. My message is the same now as it was when I left my first comment on this story. And my message will not change. Gary if you would like to mischaracterize my comments some more, go ahead. But I think that the majority of people on here can see very clearly what I have said and can understand my point. Whether they agree or not is up to each of them and I have zero problem with disagreement. As for how you mischaraterized my comments……. “We should all hope that the WHOLE WORLD will join in our geography-transcending quest for real justice and equality. Most of us would have the sense to welcome that with open arms, rather than turning people off with amazingly silly provincial concerns”………. I never once suggested that people from other areas should not participate. On the contrary, Everyone who can possibly make it to events should. The point of my comments was to suggest that while action is needed in a HUGE way, action should be taken by falling in line behind what these people in Fort Worth are already doing. If you disagree with that then that is perfectly fine. That is your right but dont presume to tell me that any further comments on my part are unnecessary. My only interest is in the overall outcome and how it affects our movement. I stepped up to speak to offer a train of thought that I thought, and still think, is best. I do this to start a dialogue on the way forward on this issue that brings Dallas and Fort Worth closer together. It is my humble opinion that by having organizations offer their knowlege and support to the players in Ft Worth instead of going in and planning their own events the liklihood that people will start (eventually) to resent other people will be reduced. How would you feel if organizations from Shreveport (if there are any) suddenly appeared after this happened to us here in Dallas? Just marching down the street screaming about our city and such without even first consulting with an organization here? If this does not seem like the right solution then it is probably better for the few that have commented that dont agree to try and offer up a better solution AND be open to discussing it instead of posting criticism that does not suggest an alternative. I mean I would hope that I have just as much right to an opinion as everyone else. If I have slipped out of america and into some third world country then please let me know but I dont think I have.
Simply more navel-gazing, in the place of action.
Free country and all that.
Enjoy your opinions and others will enjoy theirs.
There’s always more than one way to solve a problem
No one person, group or city has all the answers to anything… ever in life…, on any topic.
Personally, I’d love to see some hawt homos from Shreveport and their Crewe’s marching in Dallas streets. Why not? God luv ’em! Get out the boas, boys! 😉
Damien, speaking as a member of the organization which “hijacked” the rally, and as a person who spoke at that rally AND AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH who lives in the same neighborhood as Rainbow Lounge and frequents the bar and as someone who promoted the rally in Fort Worth tirelessly during the Million Gay March, and as a Fort Worth resident who continues to organize around this issue… please tell me that I and the organization I represent (please note the QL is a North Texas Organization BASED in Dallas) were not welcome there. PLEASE. I really wish you would. I am continuing to organize with QL AS A FORT WORTH RESIDENT.. please know what you are talking about before you make accusations like the ones above. I brought and offered use of the bull horn to the organizers as there was not one present, and I was joined on stage by other members of QL yes, who are not all from Dallas either. I am proud of my city for rallying this way, and for folks coming form all over the place to help out. I encourage others to join the effort:
We (QL) have a candle light vigil being planned for tomorrow night (Wed.) at 8:30 pm at the Rainbow Lounge to honor Chad Gibson, the young man hospitalized by FWPD/ TABC and are hosting our Milk Box in Sundance Square in Downtown Fort Worth (strangely enough the Milk Box was scheduled to be in Sundance Square LONG before any of this bar raid nonsense surfaced) on Sunday July 5th at 7pm at the corner of 3rd and Houston. I hope you too Damien will come out and exercise your freedom of speech on the issue of the Rainbow Lounge Raid.
I will also note that I served as Co-Chair of the Million Gay March.. an event which just happened in Dallas.. AS A RESIDENT OF FORT WORTH.. perhaps I should have stayed out of the planning?
Wow Daniel. What a way to fly off the handle. Is this the only level of discourse to be expected of you? I would certainly hope not. You seem at this point to be about as open to others’ points of view as… oh…. say, a rock. Perhaps you too should read completely through all of my previous comments. If you had then I would not have to reiterate, once again, my point. Thank goodness for copy and paste because there is no way I would type it all over again. “The fact remains that Dallas organizations should be acting in a supportive role only unless asked to do more by those leading the charge in Fort Worth.” Instead of bringing down the level of discourse even more than the couple of other people who have commented on here have why not try to engage in a more civilized way with other people working on the same overarching issue you are. Should QL (whom I certainly was not going to bring up by name because I saw no reason to outright name names but instead discuss tactics) have actually been invited to the event then that is understandable….. To an extent! There was still no reason for the Dallas based organization to TAKE OVER the rally from those who were already speaking that had spent all day organizing from right there where it happened. You are quite defensive. in a way that suggests you feel i make this comment in a hostile sense about the rally at the court house. On the contrary, I was there, right at the bottom of the steps and saw very clearly that while others were speaking certain members of that organization walk right up and literally took over the event. What I felt was disappointment. Those of us in the crowd who had come over from the Rainbow Lounge earlier HAD been in the more than capable hands of Chuck Potter (also a resident of Fort Worth) and it was unfortunate to see the confusion on some of the faces of those who had already been on the steps as they tried to figure out who these other individuals were. There in lies my point. That was very clearly stepping on the toes of the people in Fort Worth by an admitedly Dallas Based organization. QL has been only in Dallas up to this point so why would there be any reason for them to have been seen as anything but an organization focused on Dallas?
As for your roll in the Million Gay March……………… Your comment on this only shows further you lack either the understanding of the comments I have made on here or somehow a misunderstanding of the scope and purpose of the Million Gay March its self. I’m not sure which, but if you cant see the difference between an effort by the citizens of a city to express outrage over an event that occured because of officials in their own city and a nation wide effort to bring attention to the inequality of a minority in this country then I’m not sure that i can explain it too you. Your participation in the MGM was fine (as I have even expressed to you in person several times) because you live in this country and the event was planned to bring focus on GLBT issues nation/state wide. People from all over should have attended the rally in Fort Worth, but it should have been Fort Worth people addressing the crowd. The reason this makes sense is very easy to understand. And I made my point clear on that in a previous post….. “What happened yesterday at the court house was a bit like as if the Hon. Angela Hunt went to the rally and stood on the steps talking about Fort Worth.” It would be inappropriate. That is another point that if you cant understand I also can see no simpler way to explain it.
Of course, all of this is really a mute point now with the realization of the TABC’s roll and to what extent the violence that occured was centered around their actions. TABC is a state wide organization so there should be rallies at this point all across the state in every city with a bar to show the outrage that a state agency has acted in such a manner. Especially considering Chad Gibson was injured in their custody. Not that the Fort Worth police gets off the hook yet though. There are too many eye witness reports that indicate bigotry on their part as well to toss out blame without a full on independent investigation in that city.
Once again people. Try and keep the level of discourse to a more respectable level. It’s like beer muscles. Some people on here just type whatever pops into their head and dont even think about actually trying to have a discussion that results in some common ground being reached and our community being moved forward. The strengthening of the relationship between the Dallas and Fort Worth GLBT communities is an important part of that and I have offered up what I see to be the best solution for that.
Damien, I am sorry if my statement made you angry but your comments were quite offensive and un called for.I am a Fort Worth Native and a Fort Worth Resident. I am continuing to organize around this event, because I am a citizen of the city in which all of this took place. It is very close to my heart. The way you speak about my city comes across very condescending, the way you spoke about people (including myself) who were there to help instead of stand in the crowd was demeaning. You should be ashamed. I will not further debate you here, as I think arguing over the internet is just slightly stupider than the people who do it. I will be happy to engage you in civil conversation anytime you like, I am in Dallas often and will even meet you on your own turf, if that is okay (we wouldn’t want anyone to step out of bounds) Dippitydoodan@yahoo.com – I hope to hear from you soon.
There was nothing demeaning about what I said and I certainly do not feel an ounce of shame for a single comment that has been made. I will of course be contacting you via the email address you have provided. I cant stand argueing online either. But when people make comments suggesting something that is untrue and include my name, if i see it, you can bet that I will always respond to ensure the record is set straight. Talk with you later. 😀
Broken promise:
And then volumes more were said.
Please stop wasting all this energy on arguing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. It is useless wheel spinning.
People are upset and angry. Let’s BE upset and angry AT THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS and less bitchy among ourselves.
Please, anyone who feels like Miss Overly Defensive, please.
Ya basta, esta suficiente.
We all understand your ^ point!
Let it go.