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DETROIT (AP) — The federal government can't be blamed for any fallout from a 2011 FBI report that put a gang tag on fans of the music group Insane Clown Posse, a judge said.
U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland dismissed a lawsuit by the rap-metal duo and fans, known as Juggalos, who said they've been targeted by police because they have jewelry or tattoos with the group's symbol, a man running with a hatchet.
Cleland said the U.S. Justice Department is not responsible for how authorities use a national report on gangs.
The report "does not recommend any particular course of action for local law enforcement to follow, and instead operates as a descriptive, rather than prescriptive, assessment of nationwide gang trends," Cleland said in a 14-page opinion last week.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a lawsuit on behalf of Juggalos and the group, claiming their constitutional rights to free speech and due process were violated by the report.
The FBI report labeled the Juggalos as a "loosely organized hybrid gang." It said those who identify as Juggalos have committed assaults and vandalism, and a "small number" of them have engaged in more serious crimes. There is no mention of them in the latest report.
The ACLU said it will appeal Cleland's decision.
"This is not the end. We'll keep fighting to clear the Juggalo family name," Insane Clown Posse member Joseph Bruce, known as Violent J, said in a statement released by the ACLU.
"While it is easy to fear what one does not understand, discrimination and bigotry against any group of people is just plain wrong and un-American," he said.
Just the man trying to keep the strong clown down.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
The report labeled Beatles fans as a "loosely organized hybrid gang." It said those who identify as Beatles fans have committed assaults and vandalism, and a "small number" of them have engaged in more serious crimes.
The report labeled Beatles fans as a "loosely organized hybrid gang." It said those who identify as Beatles fans have committed assaults and vandalism, and a "small number" of them have engaged in more serious crimes.
The report "does not recommend any particular course of action for local law enforcement to follow, and instead operates as a descriptive, rather than prescriptive, assessment of nationwide gang trends," Cleland said in a 14-page opinion last week.
There are two problems here, I think. On the one hand, I think Juggalos are wronged by their categorization of being a gang by the federal government.
On the other hand, I think the Justice Department is probably exempt from being sued for something that is within their purview, even if they did it wrong, or incompetently. I'm not a lawyer, but I believe this would be essentially a tort and I'm pretty sure that the tort reform law did not exempt law enforcement.
lord_blackfang wrote: Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.
Flinty wrote: The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
Just as all bikers are not criminals, that doesn't mean there aren't biker organizations that are heavily involved in criminal activity. I think the same applies here, that while not all are criminals, there are those within that group that use it as a resource to recruit and commit crimes. There were enough specific incidents that the DoJ thought it prudent to put them on the list. If there were evidence that Beatles fans were using it as a banner to organize criminal activity they would make the list as well.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
Ahtman wrote: Just as all bikers are not criminals, that doesn't mean there aren't biker organizations that are heavily involved in criminal activity. I think the same applies here, that while not all are criminals, there are those within that group that use it as a resource to recruit and commit crimes. There were enough specific incidents that the DoJ thought it prudent to put them on the list. If there were evidence that Beatles fans were using it as a banner to organize criminal activity they would make the list as well.
I agree with this. It sounds like some government department doing its job, I can't really see the problem here.
See, you're trying to use people logic. DM uses Mandelogic, which we've established has 2+2=quack. - Aerethan
Putin.....would make a Vulcan Intelligence officer cry. - Jihadin
AFAIK, there is only one world, and it is the real world. - Iron_Captain
DakkaRank Comment: I sound like a Power Ranger.
TFOL and proud. Also a Forge World Fan.
I should really paint some of my models instead of browsing forums.
The finding absolves the US Federal government of categorising the 'Juggalos', it does not absolve individual law enforcement authorities of any heavy handling that results from their interpretation of the classification.
No one is saying there isn't a case to answer for on civil rights, only that US Federal government is not the right body to take a case against.
n'oublie jamais - It appears I now have to highlight this again.
It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion. By the juice of the brew my thoughts aquire speed, my mind becomes strained, the strain becomes a warning. It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion.
To make money off of the less thoughtful among the young. Don't care for the music, even when I was in high school when they started, but they are great at marketing. I mean, they were able to create a stable source of income based on clown make up.
Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
kronk wrote: ICP makes some pretty gak music. If you like it, then you are making poor life choices and probably sling smack.
/hyperbole
Not sure it's hyperbole.
I think the only thing that ICP has given us of value was a really, really good episode of Workaholics.
When Tila Tequila opened for them, and got caught lip-synching, She was pelted with rocks, bottles of urine, and human feces. When I first read THAT story, my initial thought was "the Juggalo gathering? Isn't that a little beneath her?" My immediate NEXT thought was that if Tila Tequila is bringing that little touch of class to your get-together, you might want to rethink your life choices.
I'm from Southern Illinois, so I have nothing good to say about Juggalos. Much like carnies, I've never (ever) heard a story about some manner of misery falling them that made me feel one shred of empathy for them. My only hope is that when the two fake-bangers who have kept this going for so long finally die, the legions of white suburbanite children/wannabe thugs (and the homeless losers they grow up to become) finally find something productive to do with their lives.
This is a fascinating look at a Gathering of Juggalos. NSFW. There is plenty of swearing, naturally, and some censored naughty parts.
It's twenty minutes of your life that you may or may not regret wasting. There is also a version out there without the censorship, if you dare.
We were once so close to heaven, St. Peter came out and gave us medals; declaring us "The nicest of the damned".
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
Anything that adds another vector with which to judge people as being unnecessarily of my time or energy can't be a bad thing. It's like the 700 Club, but catches a completely different subset of people . That's odd for them both being Christian, but it works.
Any misfortune that befalls a Juggalo makes me feel better about my own life. Does that make me a bad person? If so, I don't fething care.
Emperor's Eagles (undergoing Chapter reorganization)
Caledonian 95th (undergoing regimental reorganization)
Thousands Sons (undergoing Warband re--- wait, are any of my 40K armies playable?)
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Emperor's Eagles (undergoing Chapter reorganization)
Caledonian 95th (undergoing regimental reorganization)
Thousands Sons (undergoing Warband re--- wait, are any of my 40K armies playable?) 
