Utah Ravers Treated Like Terrorists

[cenacle]

[got this by email from my friend Storkbass in Colorado; he asked it to be passed along...]

UTAH RAVERS TREATED LIKE TERRORISTS!
by Apollo
Sun Aug 21st, 2005 at 22:30:30 PDT
UTAH RAVERS TREATED LIKE TERRORISTS! EVOL INTENT'S ACCOUNT OF THE INCIDENT!

Originally Posted by knick evl ntnt

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.

Apollo's diary :: ::
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.

p.s. - there are more stories of police brutality that i'll post up later. gotta hit the airport soon. can't wait to get the fuck out of this shit hole state.

[dissident]

the time is coming for real resistance, are You ready?

[laughingwillow]

Yup. Right after I finish this Ho-Ho.....

lw

[Avery L. Breath]

What the hootey~!

....... would sure like to hear the other side of this story.

[dissident]

there was film of this, but every server it was on has been DOS'ed or closed down.

[TooStonedToType]

Found this short video - pretty scary.


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


It'z probably my imagination, but sounds like someone cocking a gun right at the end where they tell the camera operator to shut down.

[Avery L. Breath]

Damn.  Thats some scary shit.

Did yah notice all those military folks wearing face masks? Whats that all about?

And since when does the military get involved in busting up dance parties?

[TooStonedToType]

http://freetalklive.com/

Is talking about this right now.  Pretty funny.  

-These kids are used to their parties being broken up and were just walking out peacefully.  Imagine if the National Gaurd broke up a Nascar event - Hey you got to shut this down now!  Theres too much alcohol and titties being shown.  There would be a riot.

There seems to be confusion as to whether this was the National Gaurd our what the fuck they where.  But there is no reason to break up a music event like that with people dressed as soilders wearing masks.  WTF?

I read one of the DJ's saying the soilders told them they had to shut down, turn everything off, pull plugs, etc. In the video you can hear the soilder telling the guy in the red cap to turn it down and unplug - which it looks like he immediately complies by going behind the turntable and begins pulling.  While the soilder dude is grabbing the mike.  Then the cops demanded mike access.  hahahhha  

Note to DJs/Band Members:  NEVER, NEVER, EVER give the cops the mike.

We had a cop move the bong off the soundboard once to try to turn it down.  He couldn't find the volume.  Don't know why?
 


The crowd booed.  Didn't need to beat and kick people.  We just turned it down until the cops left.

[TooStonedToType]

Speaking of StorkBass  - I've told him before, you and your bass buddies should work on your Brown Note.   Next raid, the cops will be shitting in their body armor. hahhaha.

----------------

Ravers say cops were too rough making bust Utah County:
Sheriff defends the actions, denies wrongdoing
By Michael N. Westley
The Salt Lake Tribune  
 
 
Partygoers at a rave in Spanish Fork Canyon that was busted by police Saturday night say officers used brutal and excessive force to clear the crowd. As many as 90 police officers from several agencies, including SWAT members and major crimes investigators, stormed the DJ-driven dance party around 11:30 p.m. dressed in full SWAT gear and holding automatic weapons.  A helicopter announced the police presence as it crested a nearby hill and began shining a spotlight on the outdoor dance area, said 19-year-old Scott Benton of Logan.  "The cops just came in wearing full Army [camouflage]. It was basically brute force," Benton said. "I had a gun put in my face and was told to get out of there."
 
   Standing in a crowd of people near the main stage, Alisha Matagi says she was just in the wrong place at the Police raid rave party in Spanish Fork Canyon wrong time when she was thrown to the ground, punched, kicked and handcuffed by police. "I did absolutely nothing wrong," she said. Matagi was arrested with about 60 other partyers. She was booked into the Utah County Jail on the suspicion of resisting arrest and failing to obey an officer, according to police records.
   
  About 1,000 people were cleared in less than a half-hour from the private ranch owned by the Childs family in the Diamond Fork area of Spanish Fork Canyon, rave promoters said. Several party attendees told The Salt Lake Tribune that officers barked orders fraught with profanity, beat people to the ground and used their weapons to intimidate the crowd.
   
   A video of the opening moments of the bust, taken by Jeffrey Coombs and snatched from the ground by another partier as Coombs was tackled, shows the officers using force on individuals as they took over the crowd. Utah County Sheriff James Tracy said Monday that he had seen the video and called it an accurate representation of the bust.   "I stand by everything that was done there that night. We did use some force. It was appropriate and necessary to take those who were fighting us into custody," Tracy said.  He also said that no officers used profanity as they conversed with partiers, nor did they punch, kick, Mace or use tear gas on any of the attendees. "It's all a lie and we refute every word of that," said Tracy.

   But the video clearly shows an officer using profanity as he demands the music be turned off.  "Turn that off. Turn that music off or I'll take your ass to jail," the officer can be heard saying to the DJ. In the video, the area where people had been dancing transforms into what looks like a battlefield with groups of officers surrounding ravers on the ground, guns drawn and assault dogs in tow.  "I saw a girl tackled to the ground for no reason because she told them not to touch her. It was vicious," Benton said.
 
   Police said the party Saturday night was the third event held in Utah County during the past month. The all-night parties attract a host of illegal activities including drug use, theft, sexual assault and underage drinking, according to Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Darren Gilbert. Saturday's party, named Versus II, had been tracked by police for several weeks, Gilbert said. Police planned the bust when they discovered that the rave's promoters had not filed for a mass gathering permit through the County Commission office.  To have more than 250 at an event without that permit is a violation of the law, Gilbert said.

   Party promotor Brandon Fullmer said he purchased a mass gathering permit through the Utah County Health Department about three weeks ago. The purchase of that permit, which ensures water, sanitation and medical services, was confirmed by County Health employee Jay Stone. Fullmer did not know that a similar permit, which requires a security plan and event details, needed to be acquired.  The sheriff had little sympathy for the promoters or those at the rave. "They did nothing more than ensure this was a venue for illegal drug use and consumption," Tracy said. Officers confiscated ecstasy, marijuana, alcohol, cocaine and mushrooms, he said.

   Among those arrested for drug possession were several security guards hired by Fullmer to patrol the event. Guards at security check points confiscated alcohol and drugs as ravers filed into the party, Fullmer said.  "[Security guards] have no legal statutory authority to take and hold controlled substances. It's against the law for them to have them," Tracy said.

[senorsalvia]

the time is coming for real resistance, are You ready?

This is the fascist shit that pisses me off to no end...............  I mean really!!  It's this sort of violation that makes me ready to take up arms against such shit.............  If we da peeps don't  start standing up to such abuses, sue the shit out of 'em and so forth, we'll damn sure live to regret our own benign neglect---- sal

[senorsalvia]

There's a site (www.utrave.org) that has an article from the perspective of some of the folk that attended.   I went to the Utah County sherriff site yesterday.  They have a posting there that is complete hogwash, but enlightening, in that they speak openly about the use of  a combined military and police..   Now, I'm no expert, but I thought there were Posse Comitatus laws and the like to assure we da peeps don't get hassled by military madness on our own soil.....  ------ :x ----   sal

[TooStonedToType]

Posse Comitatus laws are not what they used to be.  When the military can train with, loan equipment to, accompany, and otherwise do everything but "directly" participate with local law enforcement, there is no difference between the civilian law and the military.   Looking at that video - they sure look like solders?

Reminded me of a small outdoor party that the police visited.  It wasn't a raid or anything like in utah.  But anyway this vietnam vet starts having flashback and freaking out.  He's sure the cops were vietnamee coming out of the trees.  Some girls were there that talked him down.  Had he been at that Utah gathering - I'm sure people would have died.  I heard later the guy's won many ultimate fighting contests in major cities all over.

[senorsalvia]

Reminds me....  About 20 yrs ago I attended a bash at a drive-in...  Seems that once a year, the owner of the place turns the venue over to his son.  The son promoted the gig heavily, and got several thousand peeps to show up for a viewing of Woodstock/Easy Rider/Heavy Metal/and Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii.....  Everyone was allowed to bring alcohol, and thee were 'other party favors abounding as well....  Ha, I had a dude offer me a half oz for a pack of papers!!  Then, as the party was cooking along, here comes the helicopters, and about 30 state and local fuzzmobiles.....  They told everbody to leave, yadda yadda; it was about like the Utah video....  Well, senor and his friends, as well as three other carloads just sat there....  There's Peter Fonda tripping out in the cemetery; the cops are telling us we're going to get arrested...  It was surreal....  Eventually, we convinced the cops that we were not going to go.  They could arrest us if they wanted, and we'd file a lawsuit post haste....   It was a tense scene for a few minutes.  Personally I figured the cops would start clubbing us with those damned batons....  All of the sudden, a limo pulls up and out steps the owner of the drive-in.. To make it so much sweeter, the owner has his lawyer with him....   A quick powwow was held between the lawyer and the cops, and voila, the cops pack it in!!!!   We were laughung and clapping...  They looked at us with a look that said they were memorizing our faces and our cars, so they could screw around with us in the future....   After the cops left, the owners son calls up the local radio station and has them make an announcement that the gig was gonna run all night and the beer was free!!!   Within an hour, the place was jammed packed, not a cop in site and a fine time was had by all --------------  sal

[Avery L. Breath]

Was just looking around for updates on this and came across

www.music-versus-guns.org

I guess a federal law suit on behalf of the ravers has been filed.