Justice for the Rainbow Lounge Raid

On June 28th, 2009 Fort Worth's Rainbow Lounge was raided by the Fort Worth Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Accounts from the FWPD and TABC differ sharply from those of eye witnesses who all say that officers used intimidation and harassment techniques against the GLBT patrons of the bar. One customer, Chad Gibson, was sent to the hospital for over a week for sever brain injury caused by the violence used against him by the FWPD and TABC.

The TABC has already fired officers that were found to have violated policy and an appology has been issued. The rhetoric the FWPD has been using recently is a huge improvement over the homophobic statements initially issued by Chief of Police Jeffery Halstead defending the violence used against us by suggesting that LGBT patrons were blowing kisses at officers and that officers were groped. Four months on, substantive action has yet to be taken.

DEMANDS

WE DEMAND a public apology from Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead to all of the patrons present at the Rainbow Lounge Raid, and to the GLBT Community of North Texas, for the assault against us and for his disrespectful and homophobic language and posturing.

WE DEMAND that Mayor Mike Moncrief reinstate his apology made to our community at the July 14th City Council meeting which was subsequently backed away from.

WE DEMAND Mayor Moncrief seriously begin considering and addressing the legitimate needs and issues of the GLBT community of Fort Worth including a full time publically funded liaison officer to our community. Publically funded diversity and sensitivity training programs should be established within the city of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Police Department.

WE DEMAND full accountability and justice for the excessive and illegal actions of law enforcement officers during the Rainbow Lounge Raid. The officers found to have violated the law and internal policy should be terminated from their positions.

WE DEMAND all official agencies found responsible for the injuries inflicted on Chad Gibson during the Rainbow Lounge Raid stand good for all the medical expenses he has accrued to date, and may in the future, due to their actions.