Atlanta Progressive News

So APN broke the story in the middle of last night (Thursday night) about the raid on the Atlanta Eagle.

I have numerous questions about this story, but one that’s come to me as I’ve reflected on the situation as a former victim of a violent crime in Midtown… In a time of budget cuts, police furloughs, and rising violent crime, who decided that it was more important for these officers to harass a bunch of gay men hanging out at a bar?  How many robberies, violent attacks, or murders were our City’s officers–paid for with our tax dollars–not able to respond to because they were busy with this?

Also, I have received an email from a reader who witnessed some of the events from the inside:

“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. Everyone was ordered to get on their stomachs and face down during this ordeal. 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,” Alan Vives wrote in an email to APN.

“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. The officers present were incredibly rude to anyone who dared to ask what was happening and several were openly hostile towards the gay patrons. Of the officers present, there was one female who was running searches on the IDs of those whose licenses were collected. She was not only rude but seemed to be enjoying the event,” Vives said.

“At one point, she stopped what she was doing and walked over to the television and asked her colleagues what the score to the game playing on the television was…..at this point there were still innocent patrons laying face down on the floor. When pressed for answers none were given, only further threats that something worse would happen if we didn’t capitulate to the demands of these “law enforcement” officers,” Vives said.

“I’m disgusted at what I went through. I’m disgusted at what I witnessed. I’m embarrassed for this city. I hope this is the beginning of a discussion that ends in the dismissal of several Atlanta police officers and whoever initiated this act.  It is UNBELIEVABLE that the patrons of one of Atlanta’s gay bars would be subjected to this kind of treatment given the high rate of serious crimes that are being perpetrated on a daily basis? Is this really the greatest concern of the Atlanta police department…especially in a city where the daily news rarely goes without some report of violent crimes against others?  This is just unbelievable, a serious embarrassment.  I can’t express how angry I am.”