Chad Gibson, and how Fort Worth PD celebrated Stonewall by attacking gay people

[threeplusfire]

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/06/30/fort-worth-police-chief-that-faggot-had-it-coming

http://therarereporter.blogspot.com/2009/06/injured-rainbow-lounge-patron-remains.html

http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2009/06/30/update-on-chad-gibson/

On the anniversary of Stonewall, Fort Worth police violently raided a gay bar for no reason and injured a patron so badly he may die. For. No. Reason.

I was born in Texas. I grew up in Texas, and have lived most of my life here. I love my state. I spend a lot of time defending it, trying to point out the good, wonderful things here and the good, wonderful people who live here. Things like this make me feel like we've been dropped back into the dark ages or down a well. (So if you want to just leave a comment saying I should expect this since I live in Texas or something like that - don't.)

The actions of the Fort Worth Police department shame us all. This is not who we are, or who we want to be. These are not the actions of the Texans I have known, from the most liberal of Austin kids to conservative small town folks. Texas is big enough for everyone to live just fine and we know that. So this act of violence, unprovoked and clearly bigoted, is unacceptable.

Please tell people about this. Please write to Fort Worth and tell them this is wrong, that everyone knows it and we aren't going to put up with this. Please pray or sing or do whatever you do for Chad Gibson and his family, who need everything the universe can spare. Please fucking care that it is 2009 in a supposedly modern, developed country and the police are attacking people peaceably drinking in a bar to escape the summer heat just like everyone else. We are just like everyone else, you know.

The Fort Worth Police Department's email address is fwpdweb@fortworthpd.com and the number for FWPD's internal affairs office is 817.392.4270. That's the number to call to report officer misconduct.

Please also consider writing the city council and the mayor. Tell them the world is watching. Tell them to stand up and be decent goddamned people with their colleagues Joel Burns, Sal Espino, and Kathleen Hicks in calling for an investigation into the raid on the Rainbow Lounge and the assault on Chad Gibson.

Councilmember W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman
817-392-8803
District3@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Danny Scarth
817-392-8804
District4@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Frank Moss
817-392-8805
District5@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Jungus Jordan
817-392-8806
District6@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Carter Burdette
817-392-8807
District7@fortworthgov.org

Mayor Mike Moncrief
817-392-6118
mike.moncrief@fortworthgov.org

Comments

[melyndabelinda.livejournal.com]

I plan to write to Rick Perry as well. I've already emailed the mayor, police department, and council members.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

The special hell.

[katielessley.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this.