Last month, Faygo-spraying shock rappers Insane Clown Posse announced they were looking into taking legal action against the FBI after the group's juggalo fanbase had been added to the National Gang Threat Assessment List. Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope have now gone through on their word and filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government agency.
This morning (September 26), the band's legal representatives filed papers against the FBI in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, citing the agency's "failure to produce any documentary evidence in support of the FBI's classification of the groups' fan base."
On August 24, the band filed a Freedom of Information Act request that asked for the specifics as to why the FBI branded the juggalos, devoted fans of the hip-hop group who also don clown makeup, as a gang. ICP filed today's suit because they received no word back from the FBI.
In 2011, the National Gang Threat Assessment List had alleged that the juggalo "gang" had been spreading its influence via social media, and "a small number of juggalos are forming more organized subsets and engaging in more gang-like criminal activity, such as felony assaults, thefts, robberies, and drug sales."
Back in August, the band had launched their "Juggalos Fight Back" campaign, which aimed to assist juggalos and juggalettes who have faced harassment at the hands of the law after being identified as an Insane Clown Posse fan. Reportedly thousands of fans have responded since the launch, and lawyers are apparently trying to figure out the best way to sort through the claims, and which ones they'll be taking on.
Thanks to Gawker for the tip.
This morning (September 26), the band's legal representatives filed papers against the FBI in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, citing the agency's "failure to produce any documentary evidence in support of the FBI's classification of the groups' fan base."
On August 24, the band filed a Freedom of Information Act request that asked for the specifics as to why the FBI branded the juggalos, devoted fans of the hip-hop group who also don clown makeup, as a gang. ICP filed today's suit because they received no word back from the FBI.
In 2011, the National Gang Threat Assessment List had alleged that the juggalo "gang" had been spreading its influence via social media, and "a small number of juggalos are forming more organized subsets and engaging in more gang-like criminal activity, such as felony assaults, thefts, robberies, and drug sales."
Back in August, the band had launched their "Juggalos Fight Back" campaign, which aimed to assist juggalos and juggalettes who have faced harassment at the hands of the law after being identified as an Insane Clown Posse fan. Reportedly thousands of fans have responded since the launch, and lawyers are apparently trying to figure out the best way to sort through the claims, and which ones they'll be taking on.
Thanks to Gawker for the tip.
