Andy-R

Check this out; American authoritys gatecrash a legal party in Utah

Pretty Insane way of breaking up what appears to be a legal event

Eye witneses story below link.


http://homepage.mac.com/apexgrin/FileSharing2.html






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.

Crazy Yanks??

SimonT

Thats nothing mate.

Heres what happend at an event this year in the Czeck Republic called CzeckTek.

http://czechtek.muzika.cz/foto/fotky...ec_policie.php







The smoke is teargas

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

PMSL @ si going one better



Seems pretty harsh tho, Was loving the music too


Good to meet andy btw

SimonT

What pisses me off is people just wanna have a party!

The powers at be think in some cases there worse than terrorists...

Andy-R

Like wise Rad

Si whats it all about then, is it something to do with the type of music played?

RichardPON

I remember similar stuff happening to small parties and it getting well out of hand not soon after the Criminal Justice Bill was passed.

Properly scary

SimonT

Thing is Rich over here the Criminal Justice act doesnt really do anything to stop the partys! Outdoor raves in the UK still go on!

There was one in hackney last month:




and over in wales in may

As long as people at smashing up the local area the old bill don't mind. In fact they would rather just let it go on and usually they do unless theres complaints from local residents and then the OB are force by the local council to shut it down

I just think in countrys such as the states or Eastern europe if your a rave then you a an anarchist hell bent on violence and mayhem - which couldnt be father from the truth.

RichardPON

I'd agree with that Simon, but I remember when it was introduced, the police had to be seen to be doing something, and acting on what THEY said was a problem.

SimonT

I remember it to - back in 93/94 wasnt it mate?

If I remember right it was when raves where getting bad press etc etc. As usual the goverment kneejerk reflex went into full swing and the oldbill had to show force which I can understand.

Now they don't care! I got a picture of me sharing my bottle of water with a copper from last year! They where just passing and stopped to make sure we was all having a good time!

Wait until the press discovers that UK raves are still in full swing. It will happen all over again

Fil

That video remonds me of the lakeside cruise, back in the day, when the police when at that with overkill ( - the guns tho ) but a helicopter or 2 and just a few vans, all turning up to see a white 2dr cos doing donuts

SimonT

Totally agree there Rudey!

There are three big raves on this bank holiday weekend! Can't Wait!

SimonT

Its still going strong mate! At the partys that have lots of sound system there is always one playing oldskool.

The party I went to in wales was sick. A loud of sound systems joined forces and this guy knocked out a prodigy classics set on this:

When "Out of Space" was dropped the whole crowd went mad!



random raver birds

SimonT

Its twisting my ankle on bottles that always catchs me out!