Police Brutality at a Utah Rave

[beener2004]

http://utrave.org/showthread.php?t=20020

This really outraged me....and it is WEMF related, because it goes to show we WEMFers arent the only ones being giving a hard time. These guys are standing up for themselves and doing what they need to fight for their rights. Just like we need to do!

[Mr FBI]

Definitely makes me think we need more raver lawyers.

[djb]

It is unbelievable.

[Mirrorist]

ugh only 12 more years till im a raver lawyer

[PhatRaver]

All too sad here in the states, but ya know what, I recall situations like this all over the country, many years ago, due to the lack of media support. Media outlets are not willing to portray the violence due to the fact that drugs were used as a scape goat. So laws were passed, and more power given to abuse peoples peaceful right to gather.

Media, which must over exaggerate their topic of choice IN ANY SITUATION, usually chooses to go with the "oh my god, YOUR 13 year old daughter was found at THIS "rave" high on extacy being RAPED by a pedophile RIGHT in the middle of the crowd, all while dealing drugs to party goers."

Most likely the media outlets (and laypersons) will think that these "kids" were on some lunatic drugs, which justified their waste of man power and taxpayer money.

This event went from a peacefull demonstration of human rights to a "practice run, for what SWAT should do if they ever encountered a violent demonstration."

Kinda makes you wonder if they aren't just using events like this to test their man power, and tactics, in a sence a fun game for those who have the power to make things like this happen.

We all know ravers are not violent, and they do too. Perhaps thats why large scale rock concerts, hip-hop events and the like aren't even bothered. Because most likely people that attend those events will be violent, even carry guns. And of coarse more drugs would be found at ANY large concert than this small time "rave"
I mean this is just a dumb idea, but damn... it sure fits the situation.

Most people aren't afraid of concerts, they have been around since the 60's.

People are afraid of electronic concerts, because of the media hype, the lasers (technology scares people) the electronic music that must be satan music, i mean WHO would listen to music that is made on a computer.. thats not REAL music....

Real music has someone singing, playing something, or spitting into a mic.....

I do think that most opression of this culture stems from the fact that most people think that electronic music isn't really valid music. (look up the rave act, where the mention that "electronic music" must be at the event to qualify for it to be a RAVE.(or its used to identify a "rave")

Wouldn't that technically be opression of an art form? Which then violates im sure more than one amendment. BUT WHO CARES! I mean after all its not really music, its just a cover so people can deal drugs, and rape 13 year old girls right?

Could we not call a rock concert a "rave" if one of the preformers were to use a turntable.. hmmmm....

Technically all "clubs" that play techno would then be a rave, and then be subject to the RAVE act's facisism.

The rave act was renamed to Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, and passed, IT IS NOW LAW.

(did I mention that it comments on a 17 year old overdosing, of coarse it does.)
The media wouldn't have it any other way.

http://www.emdef.org/s226/

Protect your scene toronto, as you all have noticed in orangeville this year, laypersons are starting to take notice of your "events" and their responce so far has been, "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY TOWN"

Pretty soon, it might be "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY PROVINCE"

Hmmm, now you all know why I can't stress enough that destiny, if they choose to have a future, must take notice to the issue of drugs on this board, and at their events, if they don't, their public elected government will.

[beener2004]

"Could we not call a rock concert a "rave" if one of the preformers were to use a turntable.. hmmmm...."

So wouldnt Linkin Park, and all those other types of concerts be considered a rave?

[Nonaberry]

Bullshit like this angers me to no end.... and you can bet I will be at the Mono town council meeting tomorrow night, to help ensure bullshit like this doesnt happen @ future WEMFs.

[PhatRaver]

Lets make them understand that this behavior is un-acceptable.
My emails have already been sent to major news outlets.

You should do the same and voice your opinion about the use of excessive force at peaceful electronica events.

[Dalhectar]

It's sick to see this happening. There's no need for this type of force to be used.

[originalVIBE]

Rave in Utah raided by the US National Guard - ends in violence
http://www.404audio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14814

Posted by Knick of Evol Intent

Last night, I was booked to play an event about an hour outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. The hype behind this show was huge, they presold 700 tickets and they expected up to 3,000 people total. The promoters did an amazing job with the show.. they even made slipmats with the flyers on them to promote in local shops.

So, we got to the show around 11:15 or so and it was really cool. It was all outdoors, in a valley surrounded by huge mountains. They had an amazing light show flashing on to a mountain behind the site, the sound was booming, the crowd was about 1500 people thick and everything just seemed too good to be true really. Well...

At about 11:30 or so, I was standing behind the stage talking with someone when I noticed a helicopter pulling over one of the mountain tops. I jokingly said "Oh look, here comes big brother" to the person I was with. I wasn't far off.

The helicopter dipped lower and lower and started shining its lights on the crowd. I was kind of in awe and just sat and watched this thing circle us for a minute. As I looked back towards the crowd I saw a guy dressed in camoflauge walking by, toting an assault rifle. At this point, everyone was fully aware of what was going on . A few "troops" rushed the stage and cut the sound off and started yelling that everyone "get the fuck out of here or go to jail". This is where it got really sticky.

No one resisted. That's for sure. They had police dogs raiding the crowd of people and I saw a dog signal out a guy who obviously had some drugs on him. The soldiers attacked the guy (4 of them on 1), and kicked him a few times in the ribs and had their knees in his back and sides. As they were cuffing him, there was about 1000 kids trying to leave in the backdrop, peacefully. Next thing I know, A can of fucking TEAR GAS is launched into the crowd. People are running and screaming at this point. Girls are crying, guys are cussing... bad scene.

Now, this is all I saw with my own eyes, but I heard plenty of other accounts of the night. Now this isnt gossip I heard from some candy raver, these are instances cited straight out of the promoters mouth..

- One of the promoters friends (a very small female) was attacked by one of the police dogs. As she struggled to get away from it, the police tackled her. 3 grown men proceeded to KICK HER IN THE STOMACH.

- The police confiscated 3 video tapes in total. People were trying to document what was happening out there. The police saw one guy filming and ran after him, tackled him and his camera fell, and luckily.. his friend grabbed it and ran and got away. priceless footage. That's not all though. Out of 1,500 people, there's sure to be more footage.

- The police were rounding up the staff of the party and the main promoter went up to them with the permit for the show and said "here, I have the permit." The police then said, "no you don't" and ripped the permit out of his hand. Then, they put an assault rifle to his forehead and said "get the fuck out of here right now."



Now.. let's get the facts straight here.

This event was 100% legal. They had every permit the city told them they needed. They had a 2 MILLION DOLLAR insurance policy for the event. They had liscenced security guards at the gates confiscating any alcohol or drugs found upon entry (yes, they searched every car on the way in). Oh, I suppose I should mention that they arrested all the security guards for possession.

Oh another interesting fact.. the police did not have a warrant. The owner of the land already has a lawsuit against the city for something similar. A few months ago, she rented her land for a party and the police raided that as well. And catch this, the police forced her to LEAVE HER OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY. That's right. They didnt arrest her, but made her leave her own property!!!

Don't get it twisted, this is all going down in probably THE most conservative state in the USA. And this is scary.. a gross violation of our civil liberties. The police wanted this party shut down, so they made it happen. Even though everything about this event was legal. The promoters spent over $ 20,000 on this show and did everything they had to to make it legit, only to have it taken away from them by a group of radical neo-con's with an agenda.

This was one of the scariest things I have ever witnessed in person. I can't even begin to describe how surreal it was. Helicopters, assault rifles, tear gas, camoflauge-wearing soldiers.... why? Was that really necessary?

This needs to be big news across the USofA. At least in our music scene (edm as a whole)... this could happen to any of us at any time. When we're losing the right to gather peacefully, we're also letting the police set a standard of what we can get away with. And I think that's BULLSHIT!

The system fucked up last night... They broke up a party that was 100% legal and they physically hurt a lot of people there at the same time. The promoters already have 6 lawsuits ready to file with their lawyers and the ACLU is already involved.

I'm sure some pictures (and hopefully some video) will surface soon. I'll make sure to post them up here on 404, so you can see the Police State of America at work.

[beener2004]

http://slcdnb.com/versus.mov movie with sound

I was watching it in slow motion around 1:29 you'll notice the police kicking the crap out of a girl in a red hoodie.

[PrtyLdy]

check this one out from Czecheslovakia a couple weeks ago at the CzechTek annual party

ironically enough, this party has been running for 12 years, and this was the first year they had permits!

http://cluster-superhosting.policejnistat.cz/3ka.mov

the sounds in the background are stun guns being shot into the crowd

[v0ins]

this is ridiculous, someone needs to put a stop to this bullshit!

[beener2004]

well....you can help stop it.....
americans seem to have a stronger voice than most countries
hopefully these guys will stand up for themselves, they have a pretty strong legal case and can do some damage.

[Odalisque*]

This is nothing short of crazy. I am stunned. Look what the law does to its own people. Disgusting.