The rap-metal duo Insane Clown Posse, and four of their fans, sued the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday concerning a FBI report, which described their fans, known as the Juggalos, as a dangerous gang, The Associated Press. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) "filed the lawsuit 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 AP also reported.
"It's a quintessential civil liberties case challenging government abuse," said Michael Steinberg, the legal director of ACLU Michigan.
The FBI report labeled the group's fans as a "loosely organized hybrid gang," adding that Juggalos committed assaults and vandalism, while a "small number" committed more serious crimes, The AP also reported.
"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. They're afraid they're going to get pulled over and harassed," said the 41-year-old Bruce at a news conference in Detrot. Bruce and Utsler appeared at the news conference in face paint.
"What would it be like if the Department of Justice decided to brand all Deadheads [who are fans of the Grateful Dead], not just as criminals but as criminal gang members because some of them used or even sold drugs? I think we would all think that's ridiculous," said thei attorney Saura Sahu.
"I'm proud to wear my Juggalo tattoos since they represent the love I have toward the Juggalo family ... and the message that everyone deserves to be accepted," added 20-year-old fan Brandon Bradley, who spoke to reporters on Wednesday.
Lawyers for Insane Clown Posse sued the government in 2012, "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. The FBI has refused to release other documents, citing exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act for sensitive material," The Associated Press also reported.
A former publicist sued the band and its record label, citing "a consistent culture of sexism and sexual harassment," as reported by The Young Turks in September, 2013.
