I believe that someone was killed at Sonar this year. Such unfortunate events happen whenever there are lots of people about and many of them on drugs and alcohol i.e. music festivals. I am unable to access the article, but it seems that this event didn't even happen at the festival so it's just a reported crime? Welcome to the world. Nevertheless, having attended the festival twice, I have to say that it was the most unthreatening event ever. Both times I experienced a safe environment and transport in which to spend my money. It is sad to see that even people who love music from this city still fall into the trap of thinking of Detroit as that limited representation the media has spent so long carving for it: a violent city full of criminals, thereby allowing the idea to persist that it is ok to let Detroit rot in isolation. And just as an addition to this as it seems fitting, I am in the middle of watching 'Beverley Hills Cop' so that my media class can analyse the representation of Detroit in order to discuss the stereotyping of male leads in Hollywood.
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <313@hyperreal.org> Sent: 24 June 2004 20:22 Subject: Re: (313) Shootings at the fireworks? > Jobot, > > While I agree with many of the points made in your post, no one to my knowledge, has been shot during the music festival. None of the people that I know from out of town (and I know my fair share from this list, etc) has ever voiced a concern about coming to Detroit because of fears that you are voicing. Hell, it would could if TT's could put a poll up to see if this stopped people from coming vs. being starved of information because of disorganization by <insert beaten dead horse here>. > > This violence and less than perfect surroundings that you say make people think twice about coming here is the formula for the synthesis of the techno music scene in Detroit and resulted in this festival happening here. > > I have always felt more threatened at the ethnic festivals that happen in Detroit that I ever have at the DEMF. I also once witnessed one of my good friends get robbed an beaten at one of these and we didn't even know it was him because of the amount of feet that were hitting his face into the pavement (he was walking half a block from us at the time and we were downtown taking pictures circa 1987). > > Is there a lot screwed up in Detroit? Hell yes! Are people going to stop coming because some idiot/psycho/moron decided to go on a shooting rampage on Jefferson over some glasses? Maybe. But maybe that same person will remember that this is the epitome of a random act. That could have happened anywhere. Just because it happened in Detroit people should stop coming here. That's the solution. With every person that comes here, the energy of the city changes. Forsaking a place that many outsiders had such good experiences and got to new/old friends from around the world is not the proper answer for the acts of a few individuals. > > It is a shame what happened. It's more of a shame that many will have your reaction to it. > > Peace, > Alex > > > > > and the Metro Times wonders why Movement isn't financially successful. > > > > Earth to the city of Detroit: to attract tourism dollars, you have to provide a > > safe environment, easy transportation, and places for people to spend those > > dollars. Festival shootings, con-artist cabbies, shady hotels, and a shuttered > > downtown -- especially when there's 300,000 thirsty partygoers just across > > Jefferson -- do not provide an environment that many are willing to return to. > > Lineup announcement be damned; THIS is what people are concerned about when they > > consider travelling to Detroit. > > > > - jobot > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dennis DeSantis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: Thursday, June 24, 2004 10:38 am > > Subject: (313) Shootings at the fireworks? > > > > > > > http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=3&u=/ap/20040624/ > > ap_on_re_us/fireworks_shooting > > > > > > Anyone have more info on this? > > > > > > Terrible - I used to love going downtown for that when I was a kid. > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Dennis DeSantis > > > www.dennisdesantis.com > > > > > > > >
