Citizens protest against Atlanta police raid

On Saturday afternoon, between 60 and 100 demonstrators stood outside of Atlanta City Hall in the pouring rain, holding signs that said, "Homosexuality is not a crime, homophobia is a crime." The angry citizens stood on the steps to protest the Sept. 10 undercover police raid at the gay Atlanta Eagle Club. Eight people were arrested that night, including the owner, and charged with providing adult entertainment without a permit. According to Towelroad, a total of 62 patrons were handcuffed, searched illegally, and forced onto the ground, where they stayed for close to two hours. Towel Road also reported some of the complaints last week: "One man said officers grabbed patrons who didn't immediately lie down by the neck and forced them to the ground. The man said he was kicked in the ribs while lying down. 'Then I heard laughing and giggling and saying this is more fun than raiding niggers with crack. They also told us to shut the fuck up unless we were spoken too [sic].' The man said he heard one person told that if he spoke again he would be hit by a chair. He also reported that one officer 'said to everyone in general that all you all do is flash your asses and show your cocks.'"