Fort Worth Gay Bar Raided
On Sunday, the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, Fort Worth police raided a newly-opened gay club called the Rainbow Lounge and arrested seven people for public intoxication. Witnesses claim that the police used excessive force; one man, Chad Gibson, is now in intensive care from a head injury (a brain bleed), and his condition has apparently gotten worse.
Go here for more information. Here are some eye-witness accounts, which claim that no one was excessively drunk or disorderly and that people were simply told they were drunk and arrested. One guy asked for a breathalyzer and was, allegedly, ignored. One woman says she noticed that the police were only arresting men, and she believes they were targeting smaller men. Here's another eye-witness account at Feministing. You'll have to scroll up on that one.
Now, I know it's possible that this may just be cops arresting people before they actually drink and drive (which is apparently common in Texas and which I also disagree with), but I don't think that's what this was. And I'm pissed off. I honestly thought we were past this shit, but I guess I've just been sheltered in Austin and Heights for too long.
Go here for more information. Here are some eye-witness accounts, which claim that no one was excessively drunk or disorderly and that people were simply told they were drunk and arrested. One guy asked for a breathalyzer and was, allegedly, ignored. One woman says she noticed that the police were only arresting men, and she believes they were targeting smaller men. Here's another eye-witness account at Feministing. You'll have to scroll up on that one.
Now, I know it's possible that this may just be cops arresting people before they actually drink and drive (which is apparently common in Texas and which I also disagree with), but I don't think that's what this was. And I'm pissed off. I honestly thought we were past this shit, but I guess I've just been sheltered in Austin and Heights for too long.