July 14th, 2009
The raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Ft. Worth, Texas, has yeilded some positives. Inspired by the community outrage, Police Chief Halstead has gone from defending the action as having “restraint” to a finding solutions and preventing further abuse.
From PoliTex:
Meanwhile our community must stay vigilant and follow up to be certain that those who abused their power are held accountable.
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Richard W. Fitch
July 14th, 2009
The LGBT community in FW is pushing hard to gain constructive progress from the chain of events surrounding the raid of the Rainbow Lounge. I would encourage readers of BTB to visit their website:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=109253439840
There is a Fort Worth City Council meeting scheduled for tonite, 7/14 @ 7PM CDT, which will include comments by attorney Jon Nelson who has been coordinating the legal affairs for those arrested and/or injured during the “inspection” and for obtaining eyewitness accounts. The story is making its way all over the US, Canada and many locations abroad. You can help in the fight for equality by joining the group and making your concerns known.
deb
July 14th, 2009
How is the man who ended up in the hospital after that raid? Has he recovered?
Richard W. Fitch
July 14th, 2009
I’m trying to get an update from someone in FW. The latest I knew from Sun., he is out of the hospital and recovering slowly at home. It will take 4-6 wks for him to be ready to return to work, and he can anticipate recurring headaches for as long as 2-3 yrs. The blood clot on his brain shows signs of being slowly absorbed. He was interviewed by local TV and shows only vague remnants of the external facial injuries. Whether he will ever recover from the emotional trauma, only time will tell. The group in FW is attending the City Council mtg as I write. Later this evening or tomorrow when they have a chance to post more info, I’ll pass it along
Jason D
July 14th, 2009
progress is a good thing.
Zeke
July 14th, 2009
They might want to start with sitting their officers down and giving them a refresher course on what IS and ISN’T the law in Texas since they don’t seem to know that their city has a law making it illegal to discriminate in service to GLBT people while, at the same time they DO somehow think that sodomy laws and laws against public displays of same-sex affection ARE illegal.
Next, they might want to require some sensitivity and awareness training for their officers who clearly need it.
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