Insane Clown Posse Win Appeal in FBI Gang Lawsuit

[Miles Archer]

Insane Clown Posse Win Appeal in FBI Gang Lawsuit



http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/insane-clown-posse-win-appeal-in-fbi-gang-lawsuit-20150918

Insane Clown Posse scored a major victory in their efforts to remove their "Juggalos" fanbase from the FBI's list of organized gangs as a federal appeals court ordered that a Michigan court hear the case. ICP's lawsuit against the FBI, filed with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, was initially dismissed from a district court in January 2014, citing failure to prove "injuries suffered." But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati ultimately overturned that decision Thursday, NBC News reports.

The lawsuit stems from a report filed by the FBI's National Gang Intelligence Center in 2011 that labeled Juggalos as a "loosely organized hybrid gang," a designation that members Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope claimed unfairly profiled their fanbase. The duo alleged that their fans often lost their jobs, were discharged from the military and even were evicted from their homes because of the FBI's report that associated ICP's clown logo as a gang emblem. Their notoriety as a "organized gang" also resulted in canceled concerts.

“We're thankful that the Juggalo family will finally get their day in court," the duo said in a statement on their official site following Thursday's ruling. "Discrimination against someone based solely upon the type of music they listen to is just flat out wrong and it’s time that the legal system acknowledges that. The FBI's labeling of Juggalos as a gang has wreaked havoc on thousands of lives, resulting in job losses, dismissal from military service, eviction, lost child custody and constant harassment and profiling from law enforcement organizations all across the country."

Insane Clown Posse also proclaimed Thursday's decision as a "major step in our fight to clear our family name." No court date for the lawsuit has been scheduled yet. The duo said in closing, "Thank you for standing strong with us in this battle and MUCH CLOWN LOVE! WHOOP WHOOP."

[hollysmom]

1. I wonder what other fan bases on the list?

that is just amazingly stupid?
Manilows? Beliebers? Dead heads (this one is quite possible)

[Jim Lane]

17. They should start with Ted Nugent. (n/t)

[hollysmom]

18. what are they called? Nudges?

[Jim Lane]

19. I don't know. I don't associate with those people. (n/t)

[djean111]

2. Big Money Rustlas - one of my I don't know why I love it but I do movies.

Good for them!

[MineralMan]

3. Do these Juggalos look like gangsters to you?

I'd use a different word, I think.

[progressoid]

7. What's the deal with the guy on the right?

Is he floating? I don't see legs.

[Rex]

13. 23rd level juggalos have learned how to levitate.

Magnets and shit!

[DefenseLawyer]

4. Faygo sodas for everyone! n/t

[etherealtruth]

9. Nah, Vernors ... it'll cure what ails you

[DefenseLawyer]

20. Faygo is a ICP thing

The people at Faygo are not all that happy about it either.

[etherealtruth]

21. Ahhh that's right ... grew up ~10 miles from those 'clowns'

[longship]

5. Rainbows, how do they work?

Meh!

Well, I hope they win. But I don't much care for these insane clowns.

[Rex]

11. Fucking magnets!

There fan base is the WWE...so expecting a large amount of thunk is a wasted effort imo.

[Octafish]

6. Wonder who else has gotten profiled into oblivion?

Anarchists? Socialists? Liberals?

J Edgar Hoover was wont to drop the dime to ruin someone's job or love life.

Now that we have supercomputers, it's a problem for every single person in the entire country.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

8. I remember seeing juggalo morons in Orange County in the late 90's

I was astonished a few years ago to hear they were still around.

I probably would have described them as vagrants rather than gang members though. They were more swaggering panhandlers than anything else.

[Marrah_G]

12. I think that is making a rather broad judgement

It's a sub culture...music, style of dress, etc. It often attracts kids who are picked on, ostracized, bullied by kids you would probably think of as upstanding citizens.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

16. Well, every time I saw them they were panhandling.

Usually outside a convenience or liquor store and making crude comments to passers-by.

If there was a vibrant, artistic and reflective community behind them, they weren't making that obvious.

[Heeeeers Johnny]

15. Woop-Woop

<C-3PO>I can't abide those Juggalos! Disgusting creatures!</C-3PO>

[img][/img]

[Rex]

10. Their fan base is the WWE fan base! How the FBI is so clueless, actually scares me.

[Heeeeers Johnny]

14. I hope they didn't appear in court wearing that foolish clown makeup.