Posted on 06/29/2009 12:12:07 AM PDT by Chet 99
12:24 AM CDT on Monday, June 29, 2009
By DARLA MILES / WFAA-TV
WFAA-TV
FORT WORTH - A Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission inspection sparked a series of protests in Fort Worth Sunday.
Seven people were arrested during a planned inspection by the TABC and the Fort Worth Police Department at about 1 a.m. Sunday at the Rainbow Lounge on South Jennings in Fort Worth.
Two TABC officers and six Fort Worth police officers went into the bar to observe how the bar was serving alcohol. The inspection at the Rainbow Room, which recently opened, was one of three checks conducted Saturday night and early Sunday morning by the Fort Worth Police Department and TABC. Officers said the inspection was scheduled.
"They seemed to just be picking people at random, spinning them around," said Justin McCarty, a Rainbow Lounge employee.
Kristy Morgan said she believes her brother was one of those allegedly picked out by officers.
"He has bleeding on the brain that is growing right now in size," she said.
Her brother, Chad Gibson, is in ICU at JPS. He was given a ticket for public intoxication and assault, but he wasn't arrested.
Danny Crockett said he saw four officers detain Gibson.
"They choked his head back, pulled him back and then slammed him against the wall," he said.
The Fort Worth Police Department said two intoxicated patrons made sexually explicit movements. They said another drunken patron grabbed an officer in the groin.
Joel Burns, the first openly gay person elected to public office in Tarrant County, attended an evening rally on the courthouse steps.
"It is very frustrating that this did happen," he said. "We're looking to find answers as quickly and as best we can."
News 8 received dozens of phone calls and e-mails in relation to the story. Many said t they felt it suspicious that the raid occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Stone Wall Gay Riot, which was a gay riot in New York City in 1969.
Many gathered with signs outside the club Sunday, and a group also protested in the evening at the Tarrant County Courthouse.
Fort Worth officials said the Human Relations Commission is investigating the incident.
Why is this such a surprise?
Actually, it’s a surprise because I always pictured Texas as a place where two-fisted drinking goes on all the time. Here in Irish Boston, guys get hammered INSIDE bars all the time, and no one says anything about it.
In defense of my state, I'll tell you that every state has a minuscule concentration of "gay" areas where the homos learn they can congregate, even in the conservative heartland. These are usually in the larger cities and in the more liberal areas and are very small concentrations of these groups. Yes, your realtor should have told you, but he was probably bound by the PC rules that don't let them give you a personal take on the area. I drove a cab part-time in Houston long ago and I wouldn't pick up fares in Montrose for that reason.
In most Texas drinking establishments, fists remain above the bar.
We have no voice on this issue. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc., never mention it either.
A man walks into a gay bar....(Stop me if you’ve heard this one before)
another drunken patron grabbed an officer in the groin
Probably would have been better if he’d grabbed him in
the restroom.
A little privacy, don’t ya know.
LOL, I cant say that has ever happened to me but if it does, I hope I am in Florida.
LOL, I cant say that has ever happened to me but if it does, I hope I am in Florida.
This has to be the worst news article I have ever read.
What is it trying to say?
I’d say their faces pretty much reflect their souls.
Gay bars are never held to the same standards especially where underage drinking is concerned. Raid them all and see what you find.
Well, with the old Harley stuck on the tracks of public acceptance, I guess somebody decided it was time to suck-start the thing back up.
Make that remark in 99% of the bars in Texas and you’ll come out wearin’ your balls for a bowtie.
I don’t know many normal people who look like that.
This “inspection” is very suspicious to me. These same claims by police used to happen everywhere in the 60s and 70s and is what brought about loss of trust of police depts. throughout the nation and eventual riots. Many many cases against gays in gay bars were made up cases full of lies and exagerations by police officers who felt they could get away with it. Once challenge became the norm most of these cases were thrown out and abuse of power was reined in considerably.
legally you cannot carry a weapon into a Florida bar.
LUCKY FOR YOU AND THE PATRONS.
The castle doctrine doesn't apply.
It always struck me as rather obscene that bars/clubs always have parking lots. A recipe for disaster, if you ask me. This may be the difference between Texas and Boston - the Irish can at least stagger home, we Texans have to drive everywhere.
I can usually detect the scent of resentment for authority, and your's reeks to high heaven.
Cops aren't the bad guys, especially in this case. Read the article, as slanted as it is in favor of the "gays." The inspections are reasonable and non-intrusive, as long as you aren't violating the law. Perhaps something you have a problem with...?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.