Here's a direct link to the video:
http://www.aymnetwork.com/files/video/utah_police_attack_partygoers.mov
I know this is OT, even more so since they were playing this awful D&B,
but damn! This is appalling. Even the helmets remind me of Nazi Germany
footage.
And knowing they apparently had the proper permits.
Talk about land of the free huh?
On 25 Aug, 2005, at 9:48 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Police Raid Outdoor Music Event
by Parker Pinette Monday August 22, 2005 at 04:30 AM
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Numerous accounts from attendees of an outdoor electronic music event
in Utah county indicate excessive force used by Sherrif and SWAT
officers. A video has surfaced depicting officers dressed in full
military fatigues raiding the main stage of the event. Local news
stations side with police in initial reports.
Attendees of the outdoor electronic music event dubbed "Versus II"
taking place the evening of Saturday, August 20th in the Diamond Fork
area of Spanish Fork Canyon in Utah County arrived at the event with
confidence that the concert organizers had obtained the proper permits
and legal clearance to hold the event. Personal accounts available at
the local electronic community websiteutrave.org paint a scene of
police brutality and mayhem, many accounts bearing eyewitness to the
forceful arrest of young girls.
Reports state that at approximately 11:30pm upwards of 90 officers,
many wearing full camouflage gear, gathered from Sherrif and SWAT
departments in surrounding areas stormed the previously peaceful
gathering dedicated to music and dance. At least 1 helicopter was
dispatched, along with large tranport vehicles designated for both
officers and detainees. Numerous statements from attendees indicate
excessive force being exerted by many officers. Inuries including mild
to severe bruises and cuts have been reported by party goers as young
as age 17.
The Utah County Sherrif's Office has expressed a long term vendetta
against what they call "Rave" parties. Statements from the Sherrif's
office as well as eyewitness accounts make it clear that this was a
premeditated attack on the promoters and community supporting these
events. While the Sherrif's office has stated that many drugs and
pieces of paraphernalia were obtained, they fail to note how many of
the 60+ citations were for drug violations. Many accounts indicate the
majority of citations and arrests were for resisting arrest. The
Sherrif's office states that the party was raided on the grounds of
failure to obtain a mass gathering permit for an event hosting more
than 250 attendees. Reports vary as to the number in attendance,
estimation ranging from 250 to 1,400. Controversy exists as to whether
a mass gathering permit was actually obtained, however, a Health
Department permit was obtained, and hired security and emergency
medical service personnel were on site.
Many eyewitness accounts indicate that officers singled out party
goers attempting to document the events on camcorders, cameras and
camera phones. Victims have claimed that officers knocked cameras out
of the hands of the owner, even confiscating some. Luckily, one video
has surfaced, and is quickly spreading across the internet, as well as
being featured by at least one local news station. The video clearly
displays a large number of officers dressed in full camouflage
fatigues, some brandishing rifles. In the higher quality version of
the video, which includes sound, it is apparent that the use of a
taser was employed. While the video is somewhat unclear at times, the
viewer can plainly see an officer atop a young girl fully subdued on
the ground on her stomach; he swings on her at least twice, as more
officers rush forward to manhandle the girl. It is clear that many
others were subdued using similar levels of force.
Initial reports from local news stations side with the Sherrif's
Office, one anchor calling the event a "drug party" without batting an
eye. Reports tend to focus on the drugs and paraphernalia acquired by
police, rather than the obvious violation of civil liberties reported
by those in attendance and depicted by the amateur video, which has
been provided to all major local news agencies.
Surprisingly, the local Fox News affiliate Fox 13 seemed to give the
most unbiased report, stating that many attendees had reported
excessive force, as well as showing the official media response from
the Utah County Sherrif's Office. Clips of the previously mentioned
video were also shown.
Other news agencies have gone along with the Sherrif's Office in
painting a picture of drugs, guns, and sexual assault running rampant
at electronic music events in general, and especially this one. KUTV
Channel 2 News blatantly inferred that the hired security was merely
in place to prevent the sale of drugs by anyone but the event
organizers. All major reports restate the claim made by the Sherrif's
department that a 17-year-old girl was found by officers to have
overdosed on ecstasy, treated on site, then released to her parents.
Many attendees and members of the electronic music and dance community
are organizing lawsuits against the Sherrif's Office. The ACLU has
been contacted as well as many organizations dedicated to educating
and protecting the electronic music community. Vigilant party goers
are compiling evidence, including video and pictures of the event, as
well as personal accounts and documentation of injuries inflicted by
law enforcement.
