holy cow that's a buttload to read. i think i posted the original story earlier this morning.
On 8/23/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Check this out, I really hope this never happens to me... or to anyone > again... goddamn... > > Sent: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 23:17:41 EDT > Subject: Pretty Scary- Utah Incident > > > A clip filmed that evening... > http://homepage.mac.com/apexgrin/.Public/fascism.wmv > > This is happening in our own country. Storm troopers, 100% legal & permitted > events being shut down illegally, innocent youth being beaten, tasered, > attacked with dogs, tear-gassed, jailed, cameras seized... > > Not only to we rape other innocent peoples/lands... but now we're a police > state ourselves? > > ...anyone else worried about where this country is going? > > ========== > Knick of Evol intent puts the night's events into his own words:: > > 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. > > 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. > > ===== > My account of the night of versus 2 is as follows: > > I was standing behind the second stage watching a friend of mine play > records. Everyone on the dance floor was talking or dancing to my friend?s > Reggae / Ragga music he was playing. Everyone appeared to be having a good > time. > > Up on the hill I noticed some cars that had been stopped for some time and > on top of one of the bigger cars I saw what looked like ambulance lights. I > commented to my friend standing next to me that the vehicle over there > looked like an ambulance. He jokingly said that it was a paddy wagon. > > Ironically, he was right. That was a paddy wagon from the Utah National > Guard. After a little while I saw flashlights coming toward us. I leaned > over to my friend at my right and mentioned how I think the cops are here. I > was pretty wrong since no longer than thirty seconds had passed when we had > assault rifles pointed at us. I was standing there behind the DJ booth with > my hands in my pockets when they started yelling at us. They told me to take > my hands out of my pockets, which I did. Then they told me to just put my > hands on my head. I did that. They told my DJ friend that he needed to shut > the music off. After they had said that they turned around and started > yelling at us again. They said that it was an Illegal party and that we > needed to fill our car with people and go. Their rifles were still pointed > at us. They asked us if this was our equipment at the booth, to which we > replied no. They told us that they knew we had been drinking and if we were > too drunk to drive to > stay there. Then another armed officer told us that we needed to leave > now. > > We walked back to our car and saw groups of people being harassed and being > told to leave. We kept walking to the car. I counted about 9 police trucks, > an ambulance and a paddy wagon on our way out the gate. > > This is my account of what happened. I heard a lot more happened to other > people. I feel lucky to be one of those who didn?t go to jail. Didn?t have > police dogs sent after them, and most of all, I?m glad I didn?t get > tasered. > > - Sean Liddell. > - [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ______________________________________________ > > > Last night at 10:00 PM I arrived at a party in the Spanish Fork canyon. I > was excited to be there to listen to the great electronic artists that had > traveled for to play for the crowd. > > Before coming to the event I researched it extensively. The party was %100 > percent legal and legit with all permits and necessary security required by > law being acquired. The event was well organized, with garbage cans, porta > potties, and rope lines blocking off parts of the area that you could no go > into. > > Now I want you to know that many people out there consider ravers a bunch of > drug taking freaks. I also want you to know that that is a stereotype that > is passed down through legions of undereducated parents, politicians, and > media. There are many of us who are drug free party goers who attend these > events for a pure love of the music. > > So on to my point. At around 11:00 I was enjoying the good vibes and great > music. Then at about 11:30 pm a helicopter began circling the party. Out of > nowhere huge semis filled with national guard, swat, and the police rolled > up. Soldiers came out of the bushes and rushed down to the party. Carrying > M-16s, Ak-47s, nightsticks, and tazers. They proceeded to attack random > people and push their might around on people who had done nothing wrong. > > I saw about 7 people attacked (before being forced to leave). I saw two of > them right in front of me. One was a guy who was walking around with a > camcorder stunned at what was happening. A soldier told him to give him the > camera now. The raver said no it is my camera. The soldier then proceeded to > grab the camera, throw it to the ground and then began beating the kid. In > the end they threw him to the ground violently an put their knee into his > back while handcuffing him. All for wanting to keep his property. When I > last saw him he was knocked out and unmoving. > > Another girl next to me said to one of the soldiers that she didn't know how > to get home as they had just arrested her friend. The soldier told her to > walk home. My friend tried to grab her to bring her with us, but the soldier > began yelling that she had touched him (which she hadn't). WIthin seconds, > five soldiers had jumped on her and were literally beating the crap out of > this innocent women. She was punched in the face, thrown to the ground, and > kicked while down. All for worrying how to get home safely. She is now > suing. > > The soldiers proceeded to attack anyone with cameras or camcorders, > obviously wanting to restrict the film that got out about it. This was not a > legal attack, it was a blatant violation on our rights as American citizens. > And the swat, police, politicians who authorized this, and the national > guard knew this. That is why they were removing potential evidence. > > We were treated as terrorists, innocent kids without weapons or even violent > thoughts in their minds were manhandled, treated like terrorists, and forced > to stop doing what we were by constitutional rights allowed to be doing. Our > rights were completely removed from us. It was if we had visited the 1960s > or communist China. > -Rodan > > ___________________________________________________ > My name is Colby and this is my account of what happened at versus. In a > large clearing a mile or so up Diamond Fork Canyon near Spanish Fork, Utah, > there was an outdoor electronic music show. At approximately 11:30 PM, a > helicopter with a spotlight made its first pass over the main stage. It came > back and hovered over the confused crowd, as National Guardsmen in full > camoflauge, helmets, boots, gas masks, and armed with assault rifles and > dogs swarmed into the crowd. They first made their way onto the stage, > grabbing people and forcing them onto the ground to handcuff them. I saw at > least two people being beaten on the ground while barking, snarling dogs are > held just a few feet from them. Weapons were being pointed at unarmed, > peaceful civilians. A friend of mine was forced at gunpoint to put his hands > on his head and turn around, because he asked if he could get his things > from the tent. Tents were ripped open indiscriminately, and all belongings > and bags were recklessly s > earched. I've heard accounts of people taking pictures, and when they > refused to hand over the camera to the authorities, beaten or tasered. One > sheriff said that "many people at the party had guns" and that there were > "children in danger". The only guns I saw were the rifles held by soldiers, > and the only children in danger were the people being wrongfully attacked by > them. They say they shut it down because of drugs. Raves are not the only > musical gatherings where drugs are used and distributed. The fact is that it > was a premeditated strike, more likely motivated by a vendetta against raves > stemming from Sequence Five (a previous outdoor party that the police did > not have the manpower to shut down) than actually enforcing drug laws. > ___________________________________________________ > The Following is an Account of the Actions of the Night of August 20th > 2005. > > I arrived at the location for an outdoor electronic music event, at around > 9:25 p.m. The First thing I noticed was the structure, and the layout of the > site was very well organized. Markers were placed to prevent people from > wandering off the designated paths. Wastebaskets and Trash recepticles were > numerous. I was assured that the promoters had obtained 100% Legal Access to > the land. All in all I was looking forward to a fun night with my friends, > listening to music. I consider it like any other event ive gone to (Rock > Concerts, Rap Concerts, etc.) The mood was festive, people were dancing and > I could even smell the meat cooking from a grill. > > At Around 11:39 p.m. I noticed a bright light in the sky to the North East, > which I quickly realized was a Helicopter Search light, and I saw it > circling over head. I assumed that the Helicopter was only there to scout > us, make sure we weren't doing anything wrong, so I quickly dismissed it. > However, it made 2 more passes and got substantially lower to the ground > each time. At this time I heard a Woman next to me say "The Police Are Here, > Everyone Has to Leave" Lots of people were disappointed, but noone was: > rioting, fighting, or being insubordinate. People merely began to file > towards their cars. At this time I actually got a look at my surroundings. > Dozens of Men in Full Camo, Kevlar Vests, Gas Masks MP5 Navy's AUG's and > many other fire-arms. Attack Dogs, were barking somewhere ahead of me. > Suddenly I saw the sight that disgusted me. A person whom I had met before > was on the ground face first, 4 Reservists had their guns pointed to his > head, and were handcuffing him. Their > attack dog was mauling his: Shoulder, Neck and Torso areas. I was quickly > shuffled along but was very disgusted. I had attempted to record the man on > the ground with my Camera-Phone, but a soldier approached me and took my > phone and said "move Along" I still have not recovered it. > I also was witness to the blunt beatings using shoulder rests of weapons. My > friend Katie Mercer was hit in the side of the head with an MP5 because a > soldier took her camera, and she was trying to recover it from him. I was > witness to numerous people being held at gunpoint, people being handcuffed, > Attack Dogs, Guns, Malice, Hatred. > > This blatant over-use of force is not only un-moral, it is also ILLEGAL. At > no time during the night did I see any person with: > > -Firearms > -Knives > -Fireworks > -Drugs > > While it may be true that some individuals choose to take drugs at said > events like this, Myself as well as many others choose to go for the music. > Just like anything, you have bad apples, but you shouldn't cut down the > tree. > _________________________________________________ > > Last night was one of the worst nights of my life. I am still incredibly > shaken up by what happened ....enough to the point of where I'm still having > problems talking about it. So i will tell you my side in a few words then > link you to a more detailed version of how Knick explains it . > > > I was playing in Salt Lake City about 1 hour away at a massive outdoor > event. 700 presold tickets, and by 11:20, there were 1400 kids there > already.... all in all total expected... 3 - 4k. This was an all drum and > bass event, held on private land, with an amazing view of the mountains > surrounding us. This event was fully contracted with the city. They had all > permits, a huge insurance policy and they were paying taxes. you have to > know this is because of what happened next. And in NO MEANS is this story > exaggerated. word for word this is what happened. > > It was 1145... i had 30 min before my set, so i was running around lookin at > the mountains and the people dancing, laughing , the crazy visiuls they even > had prjecting on the mountains. i will share photos once i can see them. All > of the sudden a helicopter comes in with massive spot lights .. all on the > people circling everyone ... and within minutes like out of some fuckin > movie , soldiers with guns (fucking rifles )come in out of the grass, like > some vietnam shit. The police in full riot gear come in, big trucks ... next > thing you know they are throwing tear gas at people, setting dogs on people, > arresting kids. 4 big guys on one dnb fan kicking him down tieing his hands > .... making kids sit in the dirt with their hands tied all in a line, now > you must remember in this whole time NO ONE was resisting arrest or making a > big deal, everyone peaceful started to walk out... but yet they were throwin > tear gas... it gets worst ... but whats even more fucked up is hundreds of > kids > on drugs driving home on the freeway while they were just in major > trauma. > > i still cant even figure out what the hell happened, the promoter called me > to make sure me knick and spor were ok and i broke down crying.. couldnt > breath, i was freaking out ..... why? Is this what our fuckin country has > come to .... a point of someone making a fully legal show and STILL getting > busted for WHAT?????? What did 3000 kids on private land in the mountains > near NOTHIING .. do to ANYONE? > > The promoters have a massive lawsuit and they have so much evidence against > the county that its not even funny, I will be present to testify against > these fuckin pigs. And if you think this matter is a joke then all i have to > say is . I didnt belive it until i had gas thrown at me. I am going to make > sure i keep you all posted on this, and let you know if theres a way any of > you can help. > -DJ SYZE > -_________________________________________________ > Alisha's account > > This is my account of events that unfolded while attending an outdoor > electronic music event. I arrived shortly before 9 pm sharp. My two friends > and i set up camp and headed to the stage. All was well and peaceful > enjoying the music to the full extent while dancing. Around 11:30pm or so i > noticed a helicopter flying above the main stage of the event. At this point > i am confused. The chopper began to come in closer to the stage with a > search light focused on the crowd. I got nervous and still very confused and > walked over to find my two friends I had arrived with earlier. Just as soon > as i did that I looked over at my friend and asked "whats going on". That is > when I was greeted by a man in full army attire, gas mask and all. He said > to leave. I said what whats going on, at which point i was brutally > attacked. Thrown to the ground and in the scuffle punched in the face by > swat. That was not it either. I suppose i posed some a threat as another > swat member rushed over to subdu > e me to the ground puting his knee in my back and arresting me. At that > point I am screaming to a patron "whats going on?" He is just as confused as > I am. At that point another swat member came over and kicked me in the leg. > Let me tell you that I also only weigh 130 pounds. I had three grown men > attack and beat me and throw me to ground for absolutely no reason at all. > Not to mention being dragged to a van and violently being tossed in and > taken to jail. Fined for resisting arrest and another outrageous charge. I > do need to mention also that while this is all happening to me at the same > time my two friends, a boy and girl were trying to reach out and stop them, > at that point they were attacked and arrested as well. > > That is my account. I have all the bruises to show. Our basic human rights > were violated in a very bad way. We have to tell our story. Do all that you > can and dont be afraid to speak up. > > > > > > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > The DJ Denise mailing list http://www.djdenise.com/ > ___________________________________________________________________ The DJ Denise mailing list http://www.djdenise.com/
