Riot In Riverside! July 4th 2008! riot brings mayhem.

[Driven1]

Wasn't there, but I would be willing to bet the police did not just tell the "black people" to get the hell outta dodge, especially when looking at the reports posted here, if there was gun fire, and they brought tear gas they would have been telling everyone to get out. Or maybe they just wanted the white people to get shot and gassed, this in and of itself would point out the cops were not being racists against the blacks, they gave them fair warning to get out before they got gassed, I guess their real intent was to gas the unsuspecting white folks since they did not ask them to leave? I think some just like to try and make everything racial.

LOL - NO!!!  you are WRONG DowntownDweller!  The cops here are racist and HATE black people.  Even the black cops hate black people.  Sheriff Rutherford makes them promise two things when they sign on...

1) they will uphold the law
2) they will hate black people

This is uncalled for and inappropriate.

ROFL!!  The irony.  Clem...you gotta see this.  Downtown Dweller...  DTP... Joe...

[Eazy E]

That said, it was a riot, and its troubling that it seems there are a few that would rather make up a different word or pretend it didnt happen.

MMMMM, from talking to the business owners around there, I think they'd tell you, as they told me, that some scary, crazy, truly f**ked up sh*t happened that night, but they would point out that it only happened because of the crowd and its response to being told to leave. And i think they would indicate that the crowd is not the usual patrons of the Points. There is nothing wrong with businesses wanting people to know the area is normally quite safe, save for this unfortunate incident caused by a bunch of thugs.
And as a side note, I know at a NOFX show in 1998 at the old Milk Bar on Adams, when it was sold out, and there were tons of kids on the sidewalk trying to somehow get in, that the cops made them leave, too.

[fpj]

Does anyone have any photos or videos to post?

That camera was removed a couple weeks ago...

I don't think so.  It was there 2 weeks ago when I noticed it. I am talking the upper NW corner, WAY up above Boger's shoes.

Just looked.  Still gone.

[downtownparks]

caused by a bunch of thugs.

Careful, our board thought police will call you a racist.

That said, it does sound like it was bad, with a possibility to get much worse. To be franks, it doesn't sound much different than the handful of events that the Temple across from Shanty hosted. When the police came in to disperse the crown (After shootings) they ran amoke, throwing things at cars, shooting guns into the air, doing circles around the block with bass cranked to 11 (its one louder than 10).

A group of us were ready to sue the Temple to keep them from hosting any events when they conceeded the point, and have promised to never host a youth event again. The bible study, weddings, and baby showers seem to be much more peaceful than the youth oriented party's.

[Eazy E]

Does anyone have any photos or videos to post?

That camera was removed a couple weeks ago...

I don't think so.  It was there 2 weeks ago when I noticed it. I am talking the upper NW corner, WAY up above Boger's shoes.

Just looked.  Still gone.

huh, that's really weird.

[Driven1]

But is it really OK for the police to tell an entire crowd of people, no matter what their color to simply leave an entire area?

here is a "thought police" computer programming "IF-THEN" stmt to answer your ponderings...

IF the City is Jacksonville THEN
    IF the crowd is black THEN
        YES, it is ok to tell them to leave.
    ELSE
        NO, it is not ok to tell them to leave.
    END IF
END IF

[Downtown Dweller]

But is it really OK for the police to tell an entire crowd of people, no matter what their color to simply leave an entire area?

And I mean to ask this question divorced of the backdrop of the Five Points riot.

YES, it is appropriate. The police must be concerned with public saftey, both to a persons body or property. In this case, as in any other unpermitted gathering they have not only a right, but a duty to clear the place out.

I find it interesting that this question was even posed (catch 22), as we all know if the police had done nothing and allowed the "mischief" to grow and culminate they would have been blamed and most likely sued for not clearing the place out.

[Eazy E]

But is it really OK for the police to tell an entire crowd of people, no matter what their color to simply leave an entire area?

Stephen, I do have to say an emphatic 'yes!' to this, despite my love of the Constitution and all its freedoms.  If you were in 5 Points that night, as I was, from when the first people lined up until almost 9:30, you could tell these kids were going to be trouble. I am basing this on their actions and the fact that I have been around these kids before, and my experiences with the temple across from Shanty referenced by DTP.
Once you have witnessed the melee of a teen party held by young black kids from Jacksonville, you will be prepared to recognize it before it happens.  
Unfortunately, I can tell this will already get me branded as a racist, though I feel I am simply stating the truth. THis is now the 4th teen party is less than a year I have witnessed, and all have ended with gunshots and police.

[Driven1]

Stephen, I do have to say an emphatic 'yes!' to this, despite my love of the Constitution and all its freedoms.  If you were in 5 Points that night, as I was, from when the first people lined up until almost 9:30, you could tell these kids were going to be trouble. I am basing this on their actions and the fact that I have been around these kids before, and my experiences with the temple across from Shanty referenced by DTP.
Once you have witnessed the melee of a teen party held by young black kids from Jacksonville, you will be prepared to recognize it before it happens.  
Unfortunately, I can tell this will already get me branded as a racist, though I feel I am simply stating the truth. THis is now the 4th teen party is less than a year I have witnessed, and all have ended with gunshots and police.

be prepared to be called a bigot as well. 

[Eazy E]

be prepared to be called a bigot as well. 

I am.
But, in this instance, I feel I am simply stating the facts as I have personally witnessed them.

[Downtown Dweller]

I didn't mean there was anything wrong with asking...I meant it was an interesting question, in that in either action the police took there would be some slamming them (maybe not you...just speaking in general).

I also wouldn't equate this to "nightlife", 13 year olds (one report stated 13-30 year olds) shouldn’t have “nightlife" I guess we just have to disagree on this, I think the police have a duty to disperse unruly crowds whether it is Sunday afternoon at Bethel or Friday night at Five Points. It is their job. If the crowd is unruly, destructive, violent, and/or did not obtain a permit to gather they need to be dispersed.

[Doctor_K]

From the Ashley Towers thread:

As a result, the place is swarming with the expected connoissuers of cheap malt liquor, who are so adept at their passion that they are able to immediately able to recycle the beverage at body temperature all over the streets, leaving a distinct aroma of distressed liver for the residents to inhale as they enter their homes.

Does that mean you're bigoted to the vagrants?  

[RiversideGator]

That said, it was a riot, and its troubling that it seems there are a few that would rather make up a different word or pretend it didnt happen.

Under the very loosest definitions, it was a "riot".  However, the gunfire, tear gas et al were exaggerations added on later for dramatic flourish by various individuals who are more interested in drama than in reality.

[RiversideGator]

Stephen, it's all good.

--

I'd just like to point out that this story and the way it's being reported and mulled over is very similar to how ancient history was created. You have numerous and different versions of the story that eventually get collected by an authority who then edits the story to their liking and then prints it. We may never know exactly what happened but there sure are some strong opinions about it - mostly by people who weren't there!

awesome point BF.  its also how news stories are created in mainstream media.  We just don't get to see this process going on at their desks.

Look at global warming, for example.  It is just a media induced hysteria.

[Driven1]

stephendare - you think all Christians are gay and that AIDS only happens to middle-aged white males like Ryan White.    well, good sir, I've got news for you!

YOU ARE WRONG.  AIDS strikes all people of all color and sexual preferences.  

you also think you are the local thought police.  and OF COURSE I am a bigot!!!  as has been pointed out by DowntownDweller, Eazy E, Clem1029, Doctor_K, RiversideGator, Joe, DownTownParks and a WHOLE HOST OF OTHERS ----> anyone who disagrees with you is a fundamentalist, racist, bigot REPUBLICAN!!

now go spread your communist beliefs elsewhere my friend.

and seriously - are you ever going to call or IM me about tomorrow's Bible Study?