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Tag: juggalos

  • Insane Clown Posse Sues the FBI: Loncar & Associates Provides Insight

    Commissioned News Story: (Source: Loncar & Associates)

    Whenever anyone from the entertainment industry gets involved with a legal dispute, there is an uproar of public attention surrounding the case. A recent case involving the Insane Clown Posse and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is no exception.

    Earlier this year, Insane Clown Posse filed a lawsuit against the FBI in response to the latter’s labeling of ICP fans, called “Juggalos,” as a gang. The case is now back in the news, as the Department of Justice, representing the FBI, has asked a Detroit-area federal judge to dismiss the suit.

    Longtime attorney Brian Loncar is the founder of the Dallas, Texas-based firm Loncar & Associates. Since 1988, Loncar & Associates has grown to include offices in eight other cities, and represents over 7,000 clients each year. Given this wealth of experience, Loncar has certainly witnessed his fair share of high-profile cases. When asked about the reason for the public attention surrounding this particular case, he has this to say: “Any time a public figure or celebrity gets involved with a legal dispute, the public’s finger is going to be on the pulse of the story.”

    “What’s interesting about this dispute is that there’s a very large following behind the Insane Clown Posse, and all of these people identify themselves so much with these public figures – it would be difficult to condemn all of them,” Loncar adds.

    The whole debacle started when the FBI included Juggalos in its 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report on emerging trends. According to the report, “The Juggalos, a loosely-organized hybrid gang, are rapidly expanding into many US communities. Although recognized as a gang in only four states, many Juggalo sub-sets exhibit gang-like behavior and engage in criminal activity and violence. Law enforcement officials in at least 21 states have identified criminal Juggalo sub-sets, according to NGIC reporting.”

    “Most crimes committed by Juggalos are sporadic, disorganized, individualistic, and often involve simple assault, personal drug use and possession, petty theft, and vandalism,” the report continued. “However, open source reporting suggests that a small number of Juggalos are forming more organized subsets and engaging in more gang-like criminal activity, such as felony assaults, thefts, robberies, and drug sales. Social networking websites are a popular conveyance for Juggalo sub-culture to communicate and expand.”

    Outraged by this allegation, ICP fired back in its suit, “Juggalos are a ‘family’ of people who love and help one another, enjoy one another’s company, and bond over the music and a philosophy of life. Organized crime is by no means part of the Juggalo culture.”

    The suit was filed by both members of ICP along with four Juggalos. One of them claims to have tried to enlist in the army, but faced rejection because of a Juggalo tattoo. Another claims to have been detained by police three separate times because of tattoos and other Juggalo gear.

    “Among the supporters of almost any group — whether it be a band, sports team, university, political organization or religion — there will be some people who violate the law. Inevitably, some will do so while sporting the group’s logos or symbols,” the filing said. “However, it is wrong to designate the entire group of supporters as a criminal gang based on the acts of a few. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened here.”

    “Many people view Juggalos as nonconformists because of their musical tastes, their practice of painting their faces to look like clowns, and the distinctive Juggalo symbols — including the ‘hatchetman’ logo that they often display on their clothing, jewelry, body art and bumper stickers,” it continued. “Yet when Juggalos come together at concerts or their annual week-long gathering every summer, they know that they are in a community where all people are equal and where they will be accepted and respected for who they are.”

    When news of the suit first emerged, many on the Internet sided with the rap group and its fans, and with the topic in the headlines again, the vocal outpouring is back.

    “The FBI should not have the authority to arbitrarily place people under a microscope,” one Vice reader commented.

    “I am a stay at home dad to two wonderful children,” a self-proclaimed Juggalo commented on Rolling Stone’s website. “I work very hard every day to give my kids the life they deserve. I have been listening to Juggalo music for many years now. For u [sic] to say I am affiliated with any gang is utterly offensive.”

    Meanwhile, lawyer and blogger Jeff Engstrom, who writes under the pseudonym Juggalo Law, told The New York Times that the FBI’s actions were “laughably off base” and “the equivalent of placing Phish fans on a terrorist watch list.”

    It’s clear that that ICP and the Juggalos have many supporters, even outside of the group’s immediate circle of fans. As Brian Loncar of Loncar & Associates points out, legal tests of personal freedoms are always hot button issues – but when celebrities are involved, you can expect just about everybody to have an opinion.

    Image via YouTube

  • Insane Clown Posse Is Suing the FBI

    Apparently if you’re a fan of the “horrorcore rap duo” Insane Clown Posse, you are considered a gang member according to the FBI and the Department of Justice. They have added to their list of gang members, the rappers and their fans filed under the name “Juggalos”.

    In response to this claim to fame the above-mentioned officials have given the rappers, was a lawsuit requesting that they remove the name from their list of gang members, stating, “Organized crime is by no means part of the Juggalo culture.”

    This classification doesn’t come without some merit, however, FBI analysts, law enforcement officials and the media have reported crimes committed by people wearing “Juggalo” tattoos and clothing, which brought the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment to add them to that list, stating that they are a “loosely organized hybrid gang.”

    Rappers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope announced in August at the Gathering of the Juggalos that they intended to sue. “We are not a gang!” the group’s statement reads. “We are a family! We come together for our luv of the Insane Clown Posse, Psychopathic Records and our Juggalo pride. Can we take a fuckin’ second to note that Jimmy Buffett’s Parrot Heads, Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters, Justin Bieber’s Beliebers, the Grateful Dead’s Deadheads and many more haven’t been labeled as a gang?”

    “Juggalos are a ‘family’ of people who love and help one another, enjoy one another’s company, and bond over the music and a philosophy of life,” said the lawsuit, which was filed in Detroit Wednesday. “Organized crime is by no means part of the Juggalo culture.”

    This designation by the FBI, the complaint argues, is in violation of the fans’ constitutional rights, including free speech, freedom of association and the right to due process.

    The complaint also claims that the fans that sport “Juggalo” tattoos and clothing have been illegally targeted by police and denied jobs because of the FBI’s gang designation.

    “Among the supporters of almost any group — whether it be a band, sports team, university, political organization or religion — there will be some people who violate the law. Inevitably, some will do so while sporting the group’s logos or symbols,” the filing said. “However, it is wrong to designate the entire group of supporters as a criminal gang based on the acts of a few. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened here.”

    “Many people view Juggalos as nonconformists because of their musical tastes, their practice of painting their faces to look like clowns, and the distinctive Juggalo symbols — including the ‘hatchetman’ logo that they often display on their clothing, jewelry, body art and bumper stickers,” the suit said. “Yet when Juggalos come together at concerts or their annual week-long gathering every summer, they know that they are in a community where all people are equal and where they will be accepted and respected for who they are.”

    The complaint also asserted that the FBI’s widespread announcement and gang labeling, “has caused real harm to ordinary Juggalos from coast to coast.”

    The U.S. Justice Department has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit.

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  • Insane Clown Posse Suing FBI Because of Gang Classification

    The Insane Clown Posse, for those who might have the pleasure of not knowing, is a music group (and the writer uses that term very loosely) that has amassed a large cult of followers, often referred to as “Juggalos.” The group is known for producing music that is somewhat outlandish, to say the very least, as well as for the bizarre makeup the two front men, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope, are always seen in. The group has faced much persecution in the past, mostly in the form of parents and other concerned adult figures who have demanded action and protest against the group and their scandalous, strange activities. As of late, however, they are facing a much bigger opponent; the US government.

    Yes, it seems that the Insane Clown Posse and its followers have come under fire by the FBI, who labelled the group and their followers as a “loosely organized hybrid gang” in a report released back in 2011. The report mentioned that “Juggalos” had participated in vandalism and assault, with a few being guilty of “more serious” crimes. The Insane Clown Posse has not taken this act of slander made against themselves and their fans lying down, however; the rap-metal duo has decided to take action in the form of enacting a lawsuit against the FBI.

    Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope filed a lawsuit against the FBI, naming four “Juggalos” as plaintiffs in the case, as well. The musicians are upset by the claim, saying that it has damaged public relations and business deals, as well as negatively effected the lives of their beloved fans. Violent J, on the topic of the lawsuit, had this to say, “It’s time for the FBI to come to its senses and recognize that Juggalos are not a gang but a worldwide family united by the love of music. There has never been — and will never be — a music fan base quite like Juggalos, and 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.”

    Some fans have also come forward with statements regarding the case, claiming to have been harassed by police and other authority figures based on their status as “Juggalos.” Brandon Bradley, one such Juggalo, was quoted as saying, “It’s unfair that police are treating fans of ICP like criminals just because of the music we like. Even though the Juggalo community has had a positive effect on my life, now I feel I have to cover my tattoos in certain areas or risk being harassed by police. It’s wrong to make me hide who I am.”

    Among all of this information and legal action, one question still remains unanswered; how on Earth did the FBI think that classifying Juggalos as gang members was a valid choice to make in the first place? Hopefully the ensuing court case will be able to answer this grand question so that our minds might be laid to rest.

    Image via YouTube.