'However, the police were said to have ordered all patrons to get on the ground-including patrons who were just dancing or standing at the bar-and numerous patrons said people were handcuffed indiscriminately.īar patrons were furious at the aggressive and indiscriminate treatment and called the incident 'harassment. It has a wide reputation as Manhattan's gay mecca, and while that has historically been true, rising acceptance of the gay lifestyleand soaring. Once a mixed, low-income neighborhood on the West Side, Chelsea has become a focal point for artists and galleries. Some patrons complained about 'aggressive treatment,' according to the Atlanta Progressive News. The Eagle is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Police, some of whom were initially in the bar undercover, reportedly asked each patron individually to show identification before most were allowed to leave the bar. One source told the Atlanta Progressive News that lack of a license for the dancers was the reason for the arrests. Several staff members, male dancers and patrons were arrested for reasons that remain unclear in the developing story. 'The Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar, was raided by police late Thursday night and staff members, dancers and patrons were arrested in an incident that witnesses allege constituted 'harassment.'Īccording to an account published by a witness in the Atlanta Progressive News, about 10 police cars and 15 police officers raided the bar around 11:30 p.m., allegedly searching for drugs.
