Speaking to their fans and media on the site of their 13th annual “Gathering of the Juggalos” music festival, the Insane Clown Posse expressed concern for the well-being of their fan base, which was labeled a “gang” by The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Gang Intelligence Center’s 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment. To that end, the duo of Violent J (Joseph Bruce) and Shaggy 2 Dope (Joseph Utsler) announced that they, along with Psychopathic Records, have retained legal counsel to investigate and pursue legal action including monetary compensation and/or other injunctive relief on behalf of their fan base, the Juggalos.
The 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment lists Insane Clown Posse’s fans, known as Juggalos, under “non-traditional gangs.” The report places Juggalos among such notorious entities as the Aryan Brotherhood, Bloods, Crips and the Latin Kings and states, “…many Juggalos subsets 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….”
Shaggy 2 Dope stated, “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, doesn’t make you a criminal.”
Violent J said, “We’re not attacking the FBI, but they got this wrong. The Juggalos are not a gang, and that needs to be fixed.”
Video of the Insane Clown Posse’s making their official statement at the “Gathering of the Juggalos” today can be viewed shortly at www.juggalosfightback.com.
Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records’ legal counsel, Howard Hertz of Hertz Schram PC, has released the following statement:
“We are seeking individual Juggalos whose rights have been violated as a result of the mistaken belief that they are a ‘gang member.’ If you or someone you know has suffered any negative consequence with an employer, 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.
We are seeking individuals who have experienced any of the following based on a government employee or other’s knowledge of the Juggalo ‘gang’ status as stated in the 2011 National Gang Assessment:
1. Stopped by Border Patrol (U.S., Canadian or otherwise)
2. Stopped or denied ability to fly on an airline
3. Increased criminal sentencing or denial of parole
4. Transfer of a juvenile criminal offender from juvenile court to circuit (“adult”) court
5. Denial of job opportunity, loss of employment
6. Denial of permit to march, boycott, assemble
7. Denial of a vendor to sell Juggalo merchandise
8. An injunction preventing the Juggalos from congregating in any area, wearing Juggalo clothing, displaying tattoos
9. Pulled over or detained by law enforcement
10. Any other denial of a right, liberty, property”
The law firm of Hertz Schram urges Juggalos who meet the above criteria to share their experiences with their legal team at no charge. Juggalos are asked to fill out a short questionnaire that may be completed online at www.juggalosfightback.com.
