After receiving telephone calls from patrons who were there (some of whom I know quite well), I have communicated with both the Norfolk City Attorney's office and the management of Jack's Attic, a new gay friendly bar in Norfolk, Virginia, about the police department's apparent storm trooper like conduct in raiding Jack's Attic on it's opening night. The City claims - in typical form - that the club did not have required permits while the club's management is adamant that they were not in violation of any city requirements and that there was NOT any entertainment in the second floor. I will be meeting with management of the club on Monday and hope to be able to give a further update next week as to who is telling the truth.I can say this: Having experienced anti-gay harassment by Norfolk police officers personally first hand some years back - activist Wayne Besen was with me at the time - I unfortunately tend to find claims of thug like behavior by Norfolk police officers only too credible. In my own case, Norfolk Police Internal Affairs seem far more concerned with covering up misconduct of police department officers as opposed to protecting the rights of wrongfully harassed citizens. As for the Chief of Police, it was virtually impossible to even talk to the man. Here's what WVEC-TV reported which parrots the City's version of events:
*
NORFOLK--Many people are upset after Norfolk police are called to the grand opening of Jack's Attic on Granby street in Norfolk. The new gay and lesbian bar opened Thursday night on the second floor of Jack Quinn's Irish Pub in the 200 block of Granby.
*
The city's bar task force tells WVEC.com that the establishment did not have a special exception for entertainment on the second floor. Jack Quinn's was warned not to hold the event, but according to police they held it anyway in spite of the ordinance.
*
The task force says it was forced to take action and police moved in citing the bar for the violation.
*
I would also note that given Norfolk's many crime problems, it would seem to be far more useful to citizens to have police officers on the street stopping crimes and vandalism (they often won't even take reports of property damage from vandalism) rather than harassing a gay friendly business establishment.
*
NORFOLK--Many people are upset after Norfolk police are called to the grand opening of Jack's Attic on Granby street in Norfolk. The new gay and lesbian bar opened Thursday night on the second floor of Jack Quinn's Irish Pub in the 200 block of Granby.
*
The city's bar task force tells WVEC.com that the establishment did not have a special exception for entertainment on the second floor. Jack Quinn's was warned not to hold the event, but according to police they held it anyway in spite of the ordinance.
*
The task force says it was forced to take action and police moved in citing the bar for the violation.
*
I would also note that given Norfolk's many crime problems, it would seem to be far more useful to citizens to have police officers on the street stopping crimes and vandalism (they often won't even take reports of property damage from vandalism) rather than harassing a gay friendly business establishment.
2 comments:
So now we know where the interest of the Norfolk police lies. Not in keeping their citizenry safe, but in keeping the "christians" safe from the scary scary glbt.
Was just out at Rainbow Cactus Bar, and left early because of the police presence. Worried that they were going to raid the place. I thought we were past this sort of singling out minorities. I googled raids and the seem to only raid gay bars and the one gentleman's club. This is outright discrimination and intimidation.
Post a Comment