Atlanta Mayor Apologizes For Eagle Raid

(Via - Georgia Voice)

ATLANTA: City To Pay $1M Settlement Over Police Raid At Eagle Nightclub

The city of Atlanta has agreed to pay a $1M settlement over last year's outrageous police raid of the Eagle, a popular leather bar where employees and patrons were forced to lie on a filthy floor as cops reportedly shouted anti-gay slurs. The Georgia Voice reports:

The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously this afternoon to approve a $1.025 million settlement in a federal lawsuit over the Atlanta Police Department's 2009 raid on the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The settlement must now go back to the federal judge for final approval. All parties in the case are under a gag order until the settlement is finalized. Before the vote, the council met in closed executive session to discuss the proposed settlement, which was reached Friday between city attorneys and attorneys for patrons and employees of the Eagle. The settlement resolution includes $1.025 million to go into an escrow account with Lambda Legal, one of two nonprofit legal groups that joined attorney Dan Grossman in representing the Eagle plaintiffs. The Southern Center for Human Rights also joined the case.

Those arrested on the night of the raid either had their charges dismissed or were found not guilty.

ATLANTA: Citizen Review Board Rules Cops Falsely Imprisoned Eagle Bar Patrons

Atlanta's Citizen Review Board has ruled that 24 city cops falsely imprisoned patrons of the Atlanta Eagle during a raid that occurred one year ago today. The board is delaying deciding on a punishment for the officers pending a review of what role their supervisors had in the raid.

The CRB, a citizens oversight board created by the Atlanta City Council, is limited in the kinds of complaints it can investigate, and the actions of police supervisors is among them. But the board has a great deal of latitude in conducting studies, according to the city ordinance. Some patrons said they were not allowed to move for more than an hour while officers confiscated their driver's licenses and checked for criminal records. Customers also said they had to endure anti-gay slurs from some of the officers. The CRB staff said Thursday it could not identify the officers who allegedly made those comments because the patrons were face-down on the floor and could not see who was speaking. The officers involved in the raid denied making or hearing slurs.

All charges against the patrons and employees were eventually dismissed.

WEDNESDAY: NYC Eagle & Lambda Legal Solidarity Fundraiser For Atlanta Eagle

Tomorrow, Wednesday May 12th, the NYC Eagle will host a benefit for Lambda Legal in solidarity with the Atlanta Eagle, who was the subject of a ridiculous raid last September. All patrons and employees were found not guilty last month, but Lambda Legal's lawsuit against the city of Atlanta, their police chief, and 48 police officers will continue. The Atlanta City Commission subpoenaed 18 officers to tell their side of the story, but at last report only one has complied. The NYC Eagle event will feature an open bar and a silent auction with music by DJ Rich King. Advance tickets are $50, RSVP online here.

NYC Eagle To Host Lambda Legal Benefit

On May 12th the NYC Eagle will host a benefit for Lambda Legal in solidarity with the Atlanta Eagle, who was the subject of a ridiculous raid last September. All patrons and employees were found not guilty last month, but Lambda Legal's lawsuit against the city of Atlanta, their police chief, and 48 police officers will continue. The Atlanta City Commission subpoenaed 18 officers to tell their side of the story, but at last report only one has complied. The NYC Eagle event will feature an open bar and a silent auction with music by DJ Rich King. Advance tickets are $50, RSVP online here.