By Ed White
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — The Insane Clown Posse is suing the U.S. Justice Department over a 2011 FBI report that describes the rap-metal duo’s devoted fans, the Juggalos, as a dangerous gang, saying the designation has tarnished reputations and hurt business.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in Detroit federal court Jan. 8 on behalf of the group’s two members, Joseph Bruce, or Violent J, and Joseph Utsler, or Shaggy 2 Dope. It also names four fans as plaintiffs.
The FBI report on criminal gangs labeled the Juggalos as a “loosely organized hybrid gang.” It said those who identify as Juggalos have committed assaults and vandalism, and a “small number” of them have engaged in more serious crimes.
The lawsuit contends that the gang designation violates free speech and due process rights.
“It is a quintessential civil liberties case challenging government abuse,” said Michael Steinberg, the legal director of ACLU Michigan.
At a news conference in Detroit, Bruce, 41, and Utsler, 39, wore their trademark face paint. The Detroit-area pair said Juggalos are like a family, not a gang, and they want their fans purged from the report.
“Our merchandise sales are just about cut in half. ... You don’t see the stickers in the back windows anymore because everyone’s afraid to wave the flag in their car,” Bruce said. “They’re afraid they’re going to get pulled over and harassed.”
He said law enforcers “just fear what they don’t understand.”
Juggalos have lost custody of children, lost jobs and been denied housing because they’re fans, Bruce said.
Saura Sahu, an attorney for the group, called the government’s depiction of the Juggalos absurd.
Scott Gandy, 28, of Concord, N.C., is one of the four fans who are suing.
Gandy said he wanted to join the Army, but was told by a sergeant that he couldn’t apply without removing or covering Insane Clown Posse tattoos. He said he spent hundreds of dollars for the painful procedure and was rejected by the Army anyway.
In 2012, lawyers for Insane Clown Posse sued the government to get records to understand how the decision was made to include Juggalos in the gang report.
They have received more than 100 pages, but most are newspaper articles about arrests.
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