Legal

Insane Clown Posse consider suing FBI over fans’ gang classification

By | Published on Tuesday 14 August 2012

Insane Clown Posse

Hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse have announced that they are collating information for a possible lawsuit against the FBI after the US law enforcement organisation classified the band’s fans, known as Juggalos, as “a loosely-organised hybrid gang” last year.

As previously reported, in its 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, the FBI said: “The Juggalos, a loosely-organised hybrid gang, are rapidly expanding into many US communities. Although recognised as a gang in only four states, many Juggalo subsets exhibit gang-like behaviour and engage in criminal activity and violence – law enforcement officials in at least 21 states have identified criminal Juggalo subsets”.

A statement on new website  www.juggalosfightback.com reads: “[We] are investigating a possible lawsuit against the FBI or other governmental agencies that have violated the rights of Juggalos on the mistaken belief that they are ‘gang members’. If you or someone you know have suffered any negative consequence with a governmental representative, including law enforcement, border patrol, airline security, or other local, state or federal governmental agency or employee as a result of your status as a Juggalo, we want to know about it”.

They add that they “are prepared to assist you in learning about your legal rights and to fight for you in court, if possible … and assist you in getting the legal help that you deserve as a Juggalo”.

According to The New York Times, the duo’s Violent J said in a statement: “We’re not attacking the FBI, but they got this wrong. The Juggalos are not a gang, and that needs to be fixed”.

His partner Shaggy 2 Dope added: “It’s been almost a year since Juggalos were put on the National Gang Threat Assessment and we are hearing too many stories from our fans about the trouble it’s causing them. Just because you like a music group, [that] doesn’t make you a criminal”.



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