Insane Clown Posse to Sue FBI Over Gang Designation

Insane Clown Posse plan to sue the FBI over what the rappers claim is an unfair designation of their fans as gang members, Spin reports. During the ICP Seminar at the 2012 Gathering of the Juggalos, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope announced to some 1,500 fans that they would be demanding that the FBI remove them from the gang list.

Last November, the agency released its 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, designating a section to Juggalos and referring to the ICP-loving subculture as "a loosely-organized hybrid gang."

"Although recognized as a gang in only four states, many Juggalos subsets exhibit gang-like behavior and engage in criminal activity and violence," the document says. "Law enforcement officials in at least 21 states have identified criminal Juggalo sub-sets, according to [National Gang Intelligence Center] reporting." The report goes on to note that "Juggalo gangs" are expanding in New Mexico, "primarily because they are attracted to the tribal and cultural traditions of the Native Americans residing nearby."

"Let's get this straight, a Juggalo is not a gang member," Violent J said in an interview with Vice. "Consider a Juggalo that, 15 years ago, got a hatchet man tattoo or something. Now they've got a family, they're working in real estate or something, and they're driving home and get a speeding ticket. Next thing you know, he's in the gang file, and that will be taken into consideration in any trial. Suddenly, it ain't just somebody who fucked up, it's a gang member that fucked up, and they're getting a heavier sentence."

To help build their case against the FBI, Insane Clown Posse and their label, Psychopathic Records, have launched the website juggalosfightback.com, where they will be seeking testimony from Juggalos who feel their rights have been violated as a result of their affiliation.

"We want to show our appreciation and support for our fans and we are prepared to assist you in learning about your legal rights and to fight for you in Court, if possible," a statement on the website says. 

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Insane Clown Posse to Sue FBI Over Gang Designation

Insane Clown Posse plan to sue the FBI over what the rappers claim is an unfair designation of their fans as gang members, Spin reports. During the ICP Seminar at the 2012 Gathering of the Juggalos, Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope announced to some 1,500 fans that they would be demanding that the FBI remove them from the gang list.

Last November, the agency released its 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, designating a section to Juggalos and referring to the ICP-loving subculture as "a loosely-organized hybrid gang."

"Although recognized as a gang in only four states, many Juggalos subsets exhibit gang-like behavior and engage in criminal activity and violence," the document says. "Law enforcement officials in at least 21 states have identified criminal Juggalo sub-sets, according to [National Gang Intelligence Center] reporting." The report goes on to note that "Juggalo gangs" are expanding in New Mexico, "primarily because they are attracted to the tribal and cultural traditions of the Native Americans residing nearby."

"Let's get this straight, a Juggalo is not a gang member," Violent J said in an interview with Vice. "Consider a Juggalo that, 15 years ago, got a hatchet man tattoo or something. Now they've got a family, they're working in real estate or something, and they're driving home and get a speeding ticket. Next thing you know, he's in the gang file, and that will be taken into consideration in any trial. Suddenly, it ain't just somebody who fucked up, it's a gang member that fucked up, and they're getting a heavier sentence."

To help build their case against the FBI, Insane Clown Posse and their label, Psychopathic Records, have launched the website juggalosfightback.com, where they will be seeking testimony from Juggalos who feel their rights have been violated as a result of their affiliation.

"We want to show our appreciation and support for our fans and we are prepared to assist you in learning about your legal rights and to fight for you in Court, if possible," a statement on the website says. 

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Rage Against the Machine to Rush Limbaugh: 'Stop Using Our Music in Your Right-Wing Clown Show'

Tom Morello demands that Rush Limbaugh drop Rage tunes from his playlist.

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine is the latest rock star to demand that Rush Limbaugh stop using his music on the air. "Rush Limbaugh played "Sleep Now in the Fire" as a bumper on his show today," Morello told Rolling Stone last night. "Our response: 'Hey Jackass, stop using our music on your racist, misogynist, right wing clown show." (He later tweeted the same message.)

Peter Gabriel, Rush and the Fabulous Thunderbirds have made public statements asking for their music to be pulled from Limbaugh's syndicated talk show following the host's personal attack on Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, whom he called a "slut" and a "prostitute" for defending women's reproductive rights.

Though artists can certainly make their feelings known about the use of their music on the radio, they have no real legal power in actually enforcing demands to cease and desist. Radio networks are covered under blanket agreements for "public performance" of the songs in major publishing catalogs, and so long as those networks pay their licensing fees, they are allowed to play whatever they like within the bounds of FCC regulations.

Attorney Larry Iser, who successfully had music by Jackson Browne and Talking Heads removed from political ads by John McCain and Charlie Crist, tells Rolling Stone that while artists have limited rights in this matter, they still have plenty of influence in the court of public opinion. "The Constitution is the Constitution, and thank goodness for it," says Iser. "They do have a legal right to stand up and make as much noise as possible about how appalled they are."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Rage Against the Machine to Rush Limbaugh: 'Stop Using Our Music in Your Right-Wing Clown Show'

Tom Morello demands that Rush Limbaugh drop Rage tunes from his playlist.

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine is the latest rock star to demand that Rush Limbaugh stop using his music on the air. "Rush Limbaugh played "Sleep Now in the Fire" as a bumper on his show today," Morello told Rolling Stone last night. "Our response: 'Hey Jackass, stop using our music on your racist, misogynist, right wing clown show." (He later tweeted the same message.)

Peter Gabriel, Rush and the Fabulous Thunderbirds have made public statements asking for their music to be pulled from Limbaugh's syndicated talk show following the host's personal attack on Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, whom he called a "slut" and a "prostitute" for defending women's reproductive rights.

Though artists can certainly make their feelings known about the use of their music on the radio, they have no real legal power in actually enforcing demands to cease and desist. Radio networks are covered under blanket agreements for "public performance" of the songs in major publishing catalogs, and so long as those networks pay their licensing fees, they are allowed to play whatever they like within the bounds of FCC regulations.

Attorney Larry Iser, who successfully had music by Jackson Browne and Talking Heads removed from political ads by John McCain and Charlie Crist, tells Rolling Stone that while artists have limited rights in this matter, they still have plenty of influence in the court of public opinion. "The Constitution is the Constitution, and thank goodness for it," says Iser. "They do have a legal right to stand up and make as much noise as possible about how appalled they are."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »