Another gay bar, another police raid. This time it's the Eagle in AtlantaâŚ
"My roommate and I were there for the police raid at the Eagle on September 10, 2009. We had arrived about 20 minutes before the raid took place," Allan Vives said. "Everyone was ordered to get on their stomachs and face down⌠As far as I could tell everyone was searched at least once, most of us twice. Most, but not all, of the officers were incredibly derogatory and insulting whether they found evidence of drugs or not," Vives said. "When asking why, we were met with derisive remarks and no explanation. I am furious at how we were treated and can't believe that this has happened in this day and age."
I'm happy to live in a city where small-minded, petty, vindictive authorities don't harass bars and cluâoh, right.
UPDATE: The police raided the Atlanta Eagleâand harassed and mistreated its gay patronsâapparently based on single "tip" phoned in to the mayor's office:
Atlanta Police's liaison to the gay community said the volume of complaints she's received from patrons at a Midtown gay bar⌠The raid was a result of a tip sent to Mayor Shirley Franklin's office a couple of weeks ago, said Danni Lynn Harris, Atlanta Police's LGBT liaison.
Eight employees of the Eagle "remain under arrest"ânot for selling or possessing drugs, but for "providing adult entertainment without a city permit." Which sounds like homophobic police speak for "those homos didn't have thar shirts on."
I think we should find out if the mayor of Atlanta will order a police raid on any barâgay or straightâbased on a single (and apparently phony) tip about drug use. So, hey, here's a list of bars in Atlanta and here's the mayor's contact info...
Mayor Shirley Franklin
Tel: 404.330.6100
Fax: 404.658.6893
mayorfranklin@atlantaga.gov
If you know or even just suspect that drugs are being used or soldâor adult entertainment provided without a city permitâon the premises of any bar or club in Atlanta, send a tip off the mayor's office now. If every bar in Atlanta winds up gets raidedâif 10 police cars, 15 officers, and 10 undercover officers get sent to every bar in townâthen we'll know that the raid on the Atlanta Eagle wasn't motivated by anti-gay bias. Mayor Franklin is standing by waiting for your tips!
