Utah RAVE Raided by SWAT Team

Monday, August 22, 2005


The “war on drugs” took on a literal meaning this past weekend when SWAT Team agents in full military combat regalia stormed a RAVE an hour outside Salt Lake City, Utah. Covered in a recommended blog on Daily Kos is a firsthand account detailing what transpired at the event on Saturday, August 20, where military soldiers swooped on the crowd of about 1,500 people in the Spanish Fork canyon. The event’s promoter claims to have attained all the necessary permits to host the RAVE and even had an insurance policy of 2 million dollars.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune , Salt Lake City detectives wanted to “get their point across that such activity was not welcome in their area,” a point they made with more than 90 law enforcement officers and camouflaged SWAT Team members, vicious dogs and tear gas. According to the Utah County Sheriff’s office, their Major Crimes unit dispatched several undercover officers to the party and waited until they witnessed drug-related crimes to send out both local and state SWAT teams. Eyewitnesses have posted their accounts of police brutality and other civil liberty violations, as “crowd control” became an assault on many peaceful partygoers who were doing no harm to others. Watch a video of the raid here.

RAVE busts have become infamous for their abuse of civil rights on young people across the country who only want to enjoy music. The most recently publicized of which took place in Flint, Michigan, where eyewitness reports included accounts of patrons being strip searched and cavity searched, some of them in unsanitary or dangerous ways.

The RAVE Act, passed in 2003, claims to target promoters and venues who host Raves with the intent of distributing drugs. The Alliance has questioned the true intent of the law, submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Justice Department asking for any documents that reference the RAVE Act with respect to electronic music events. Any information found will assess whether prosecutors are abusing the law or upholding the civil liberties of music fans.

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as posted by Knick/Evol Intent
Last night, I was booked to play an event about an hour outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. The hype behind this show was huge, they presold 700 tickets and they expected up to 3,000 people total. The promoters did an amazing job with the show.. they even made slipmats with the flyers on them to promote in local shops.

So, we got to the show around 11:15 or so and it was really cool. It was all outdoors, in a valley surrounded by huge mountains. They had an amazing light show flashing on to a mountain behind the site, the sound was booming, the crowd was about 1500 people thick and everything just seemed too good to be true really. Well...

At about 11:30 or so, I was standing behind the stage talking with someone when I noticed a helicopter pulling over one of the mountain tops. I jokingly said "Oh look, here comes big brother" to the person I was with. I wasn't far off.

The helicopter dipped lower and lower and started shining its lights on the crowd. I was kind of in awe and just sat and watched this thing circle us for a minute. As I looked back towards the crowd I saw a guy dressed in camoflauge walking by, toting an assault rifle. At this point, everyone was fully aware of what was going on . A few "troops" rushed the stage and cut the sound off and started yelling that everyone "get the fuck out of here or go to jail". This is where it got really sticky.

No one resisted. That's for sure. They had police dogs raiding the crowd of people and I saw a dog signal out a guy who obviously had some drugs on him. The soldiers attacked the guy (4 of them on 1), and kicked him a few times in the ribs and had their knees in his back and sides. As they were cuffing him, there was about 1000 kids trying to leave in the backdrop, peacefully. Next thing I know, A can of fucking TEAR GAS is launched into the crowd. People are running and screaming at this point. Girls are crying, guys are cussing... bad scene.

Now, this is all I saw with my own eyes, but I heard plenty of other accounts of the night. Now this isnt gossip I heard from some candy raver, these are instances cited straight out of the promoters mouth..

- One of the promoters friends (a very small female) was attacked by one of the police dogs. As she struggled to get away from it, the police tackled her. 3 grown men proceeded to KICK HER IN THE STOMACH.

- The police confiscated 3 video tapes in total. People were trying to document what was happening out there. The police saw one guy filming and ran after him, tackled him and his camera fell, and luckily.. his friend grabbed it and ran and got away. priceless footage. That's not all though. Out of 1,500 people, there's sure to be more footage.

- The police were rounding up the staff of the party and the main promoter went up to them with the permit for the show and said "here, I have the permit." The police then said, "no you don't" and ripped the permit out of his hand. Then, they put an assault rifle to his forehead and said "get the fuck out of here right now."



Now.. let's get the facts straight here.

This event was 100% legal. They had every permit the city told them they needed. They had a 2 MILLION DOLLAR insurance policy for the event. They had liscenced security guards at the gates confiscating any alcohol or drugs found upon entry (yes, they searched every car on the way in). Oh, I suppose I should mention that they arrested all the security guards for possession.

Oh another interesting fact.. the police did not have a warrant. The owner of the land already has a lawsuit against the city for something similar. A few months ago, she rented her land for a party and the police raided that as well. And catch this, the police forced her to LEAVE HER OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY. That's right. They didnt arrest her, but made her leave her own property!!!

Don't get it twisted, this is all going down in probably THE most conservative state in the USA. And this is scary.. a gross violation of our civil liberties. The police wanted this party shut down, so they made it happen. Even though everything about this event was legal. The promoters spent over $ 20,000 on this show and did everything they had to to make it legit, only to have it taken away from them by a group of radical neo-con's with an agenda.

This was one of the scariest things I have ever witnessed in person. I can't even begin to describe how surreal it was. Helicopters, assault rifles, tear gas, camoflauge-wearing soldiers.... why? Was that really necessary?

This needs to be big news across the USofA. At least in our music scene (edm as a whole)... this could happen to any of us at any time. When we're losing the right to gather peacefully, we're also letting the police set a standard of what we can get away with. And I think that's BULLSHIT!

The system fucked up last night... They broke up a party that was 100% legal and they physically hurt a lot of people there at the same time. The promoters already have 6 lawsuits ready to file with their lawyers and the ACLU is already involved.

I'm sure some pictures (and hopefully some video) will surface soon. I'll make sure to post them up here on 404, so you can see the Police State of America at work.

+++++

DeadMan2003 already has some links posted "In The News" to the video.

WHY would this suprise anybody?
Everyone should know that the F.B.I. dose not like GHOST DANCING!

I, for one, would like to hear John Trudell's take on this.

I for one would like to have a stake in the payoff they will get when they sue. If they really busted the security guards..... I'm not even going to speculate. I'm just going to laugh when they have to pay.


"I'm sure some pictures (and hopefully some video) will surface soon. I'll make sure to post them up here on 404, so you can see the Police State of America at work."

I don't need to see anymore of it. I complained until I was blue in the face then I walked out.

Another constitutional vioaltion!

What's about the right to peacful assembly!

Who need do we need to put in jail for this one?

I wish that people know better about our constitution, clearly the best constitution in the world and help us enforce it!

Why should we let these parasites trampling our legal rights!


The claim and exercise of a constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime. Miller vs. u.s. 230 F 2d 486. 489. The general misconception is that any statute passed by legislatures bearing the appearance of law constitutes the law of the land. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any statute, to be valid, must be in agreement. ‘All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution are null and void. Marbury vs. Madison. S US (2 Craneh) 137. 174, 176, (1803) Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate them. Miranda vs. Arizona. 384 US 436 p. 491. ‘An unconstitutional law is not law; it confers no rights; imposes no duties; affords no protection; it creates no office; it is in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never been passed. Norton vs. Shelby County. 118 US 425 p. 442. 18 USCC Section 241: If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, treaten, or intimidate any Citizen in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or Privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States..., they shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, and if death results they shall be subject to imprisonment for any term or for life. 18 USCC Section 242: Whoever, under colour of law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom willfully subjects any Inhabitant of any State.... to the deprivation of any Rights, Privileges or Immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the united States.. .shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, and if death results they shall be subject to imprisonment for any term ...

Fahrenheit 451, The Musical, appearing soon at a club or open field near you.

Why not just arrest the drug dealers instead of busting everyone?

Terrorism never worked because If you hurt the innocents the guilty does not care and the innocents go after you!

Di you hear that Orin Hash, Shitman and Ben Laden?

This UTA cops are a pack of coward and bullies! Yes it is not dangerous to go after party goer!

Not yet!

May be next time the party goer should bring their guns too! Hey! the right to bear Arms you know!

And as for these fucking cops if you think you have balls go to Afganistan and bring back the head of Ben Laden! You have no business there in our land!

You forgot that your duty is to protect and serve not assault the citizen of this country!

Let bring back our troop form Irak! We need protection here at home against these people to defend our constitution!

MajorTreat,

"You forgot that your duty is to protect and serve not assault the citizen of this country!"

Have you been living in a cave or something? Police take advantage of their jobs all the fuckin time. Do you really think everybody arrested is actually guilty of a crime? Obviously you don't. And I'm glad to see this. But don't assume that tired old DARE jargon, Cops are not here to protect and serve any individual person. The public as a whole when it's convenient, but otherwise, no.

I have one tiny example come to think of it. I live on a road that for some silly reason, still has a speed limit sign of 25 mph; hidden nicely in some tree foilage; so you can barely see it. Now, the other night, as I was leaving work; I was driving down the road, at my usual speed (actually, I wasn't even maintaining enough speed to catch up to the SUV or the suburban in front of me); The cop waits for all 3 vehicles to pass him, The suburban overestimated how well he was sticking to the road and damn near lost it coming around the bend, right in front of the cop. We're talking, outright lane changes, going down the wrong side of the road. Damn sure wreckless driving. SUV does nothing, I do nothing. Except pass the cop car. I turn into my driveway and shut my truck down, The fucking cop pulls in as I'm getting out of my truck to give me a speeding ticket. LOL. Knowing full well, we were all speeding, and one of us just about wrecked, but that individual didn't get shit.

Cops are not honest most of the time. They can make up any reason they want to fuck with you, the matter is settled later in court. If you live here, The judge probably owes the cops a favor, so you'll get fucked anyway.

Injustice is what we are fighting. This sounds very much like a gross case of injustice to my ears. Sure, there may have been a few drug dealers in the crowd (probably a lot less than at a "legitimate RIAA band's concert - but that's not the point) - but to use something like the RAID act to bust on the concert/event attendees and promoters/performers really sickens me.

What was the REAL reason for this?

I want to know!

It sure as hell wasn't on CNN or Fox or any of the major news networks last I checked.

WTF is going on in our country?

RaidHHI

I am sorry but I have to repeat this:

The duty of the police is to protect and serve.

I believe that most does.

For those that don't such as those that beated king or the overwhelming evidence planter of the LAPD, the justice must deal with them.

If it does not we should.

So go and get yourself a gun just in case.

I am NOT an advocate of violence...

But I do see the reasoning behind the "right to bear arms" that was allowed/provided for by our Founders in the Constitution. (It's to protect ourselves from when government becomes a dictatorship!)

(Please God, do NOT let the need occur!)

Unless a major news network gets emotional about it and make a prime time scandal out of it. This is probably going to die and nobody will ever hear about it ever again.

Too bad major networks are now propaganda machines, or at best, large talk shows that report opinions instead of real news.

If I had to bet on it, I would say this is probably the 1st and last time I hear about this sad and shocking story

"What was the REAL reason for this?"

Probably the fact that this country is turning into a police state. Intolerance is at all time high, fear fuels police violence, jails are full, etc ...

Seen through european eyes, the USA are militarized, intolerant and violent. The law enforcement system is deshumanized and, in its Kafkaian dimension, now borders on fascism. Expect to see more and more of those crackdowns at a variety of venues (altermondialization, raves, medicianl cannabis demonstration, demonstration against the president or his party...) It's only the logical continuation of a trend that's going domestic as some policians are becoming bolder and bolder with their orwellian population management and disrespect for the principle of democracy (despite the fact that democracy and freedom are the words they use the most without really understanding them anymore).

this has been going on sicne that elian gonzalez deal during the clinton administration....
what a bunch of crap why do you need solders to arrest ravers...
fuckin nazis

I've been trying to find more information about that raid. I went to the Salt Lake Tribune. This is an interesting article about the President's visit to the state: http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2967798

I must be missing something...what does Elian Gonzalez have to do with a rave?

And I think the President had a memorable visit to Utah, didn't he?

"what does Elian Gonzalez have to do with a rave?"

• Both happened at night.
• Elian was dancing in the closet with a glowstick, listening to Mormon heavy metal.

Thanks for clearing that up, George!

yeah and he downloaded that heavy metal off of kazaa, that's why he's..... well, gone away for a while.

This article is disturbing and I hope it gets national attention. That is not right at all.

raid, sounds like you got caught by radar, when you are mixed in with a bunch of other cars the radar is fuzzy to the officer reading it until the last vehicle. With radar the last vehicle in a group of cars gets the ticket !!! u b a victim of what I call the "municipal revenue service !! flbgbt

consider it a charitable contribution to the municipality. you really don't have any chance of winning if you fight it.

Too bad the 1500 people didn't overpower the swat officers and . . . .

. . . and what? Do something regrettable that would give the S.W.A.T. team justification for their tyrannical techniques?

. . . and I can almost read the news reporting fall-out over something like that happening. That would then be the focus, whereas now there is plenty of eyebrows to be raised over how the S.W.A.T. officers proceeded with unnecessarily heavy-handed if not brutal approaches.

I think almost all the 1500 people did the best thing.

So, what we need is for the facts of the incident to be publicized, which casts the S.W.A.T. invasion in a very negative light.
Personally, I'm very unfavorably disposed toward some of the of the organizational attitudes and tactics of these commando groups, including the B.A.T.F. I'm sure you've read about the experiences of Randy Weaver's family, and various other people over the years — experiences which resonate like a bad taste in the mouth.
To be fair, most of the individuals had been involved in some inappropriate or even illegal activity, but it hardly justified the way they were attacked in rather gestapo-type if not deadly fashion. And I've yet to ready about any of them (I consider many of them as victims of governmental abuse) prevailing in litigation against the B.A.T.F. for they vicious way they were treated. If any of you readers know differently in any case, please inform me, because I might have missed it.
Thanks.

This will be swept under the carpet. It already is. Sigh...glad I don't live in America right now although the UK is nearly as bad at times.

And it's probably only a matter of time until both get worse, too, sad to say.
I hate to be pessimistic, but the outlook is not good.

You know, part of why I feel that way is due to conditions like what you said (which is true) about an absolute outrage such as this raid/attack being swept under the rug, so so speak. It should have been big news.
But the major news networks gave governmental tyranny another free pass, or what??

Still, though, litigation over what transpired will bring it to the forefront some. I just hope those who sue are sucessful. From indications, they deserve to be.