Guest BlingBling Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 COME JOIN THE CITIZENS RALLY A Peace Rally & Candlelight Vigil in memory of Terrence Brown, and all other victims of unsolved murders in the District of Columbia WHEN: THURSDAY APRIL 7, 2005 TIME: 6:00 P.M. WHERE: CLUB U/COACH & IV 2000 14th Street Suite #10 (corner of 14th & U inside the Reeves Center) FEATURING: Special Keynote Speakers from the African-American Community, including Valencia Mohammed, and numerous other important guest FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Coach & IV/Club U (202)328-8859 We need you. Come out and support us! Mayor Anthony Williams, Council Member Jim Graham nor Police Chief Charles Ramsey have focused on catching the criminals responsible for senseless acts throughout the district, and are targeting Go-Go music and all businesses that support and host Go-Go's. We can't let this happen, let our voices be heard, we must tell the OTHER side! THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY The residents of the District of Columbia, and the entire U Street Community must be aware that every appropriate procedure and process has been in place to ensure the safety of the patrons of Coach & IV/Club U. Safety is something that is taken very seriously, and efforts and standards that exist at Coach & IV/Club U exceed the standards of other night clubs in the District of Columbia. The Security at Coach & IV/Club U has been, for more than a decade, top notch, which includes the extensive checking of patron identification, maintaining a staff of over 25 qualified security guards and bouncers, and the use of the most efficient metal detectors and alarm systems. The night of February 13th 2005, a senseless act of violence occurred in spite of all of the more than adequate security efforts in place at Coach & IV/Club U. Words cannot express the feelings of sadness and sympathies that have been extended. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family for their loss, as well, as to any other families who have fallen victim to similar and tragic situations. Random and unexplainable acts of violence are happening across every aspect of our society, in schools, grocery stores, shopping malls, hospitals and federal courts, as well as, numerous other gathering places. In today's increasingly violent society, it is unfortunate that crime has become an integral part of our daily lives. Each day there are reports in our local media about fights, stabbings and killings, in places such as movie theaters, MCI Center, and most recently the Post Office Pavilion. Do we close these places of business because of these violent acts? Do we punish the business owners by taking away their licenses rather than finding, and bringing justice to the perpetrators who commit these horrible crimes? Even the United States of America, the strongest and greatest nation in the world, with the best military security has been a victim of violence. Sadly, no person, nor place in our society is immune to the violence, and entertainment clubs are no exception. In a society that is supposed to stand for justice, equality and due process, should we assume that violent acts are to be blamed on the clubs and their owners? Should a just society blame violence on Go-Go music, or on the kind of patrons who frequent the club? Is it fair for club owners to be responsible for policing the blocks and streets around the clubs, after the clubs close for the night? Given the fact that owners do not have police powers, nor arrest authority over the streets of the district, how can that responsibility be placed on their shoulders? Violence in our society is rooted in the deeper ills of our culture and we must ask the harder questions of ourselves. To address these deeper issues, it is more productive to engaged club owners and members of the community in serious discussions that deal with the root causes and the related complex issues surrounding the violence. On over twenty-five separate occasions, since 1996, Coach & IV/Club U initiated as well as inquired and met with district officials to request reimbursable detail, and increased presence and, representation from the Metropolitan Police Department, and each time management was refused this service. Officials simply stated that the Metropolitan Police Department would not offer such assistance. So you might ask yourself, who is looking to find a realistic resolution to the issue? Not one of the District officials clamoring for permanent closure has ever met with the owners of Coach & IV/Club U, regarding security, nor have they been in, or around Coach & IV/Club U during its hours of operation to observe the strong security and crowd control that Coach & IV/Club U has in place. Creating opportunities for community leaders, government officials and club owners to dialogue together would be a more equitable way of addressing the violent issues plaguing the U Street Community, as a part of a broader focus on community-based solutions, and prevention of violence. Employing off-duty police at our clubs, which it is understood that management has been told repeatedly that the District of Columbia prohibits such practices, may be part of a larger solution that would enhance the security at clubs. This same assistance is offered in neighboring jurisdictions such as Prince Georges County. Are the officials recommending revocation of the liquor license at Coach & IV/Club U, as an easy way out, instead of dealing with the larger issue? Or are there other reasons why they want Coach & IV/Club U out of the U Street Business District? Closing clubs will not stop the violence in our society nor on U street! Another question that has been repeatidly visited is: Why is there a club located in a government building? Several decades ago, when the Reeves center was constructed the District government approved allowing an ABC establishment to be located within the building. In subsequent years, the district government has approved the renewal of leases to permit Coach & IV/Club U to remain. Coach & IV/Club U is the second operating night club in the specifically designated place. Additionally, Coach & IV/Club U and its owners have complied with every stipulation and requirement that the district has mandated. Furthermore, the owners of Coach & IV/Club U took their responsibility further by getting magnotometers and security wands for all patrons to be searched when entering the facility. Keeping in mind that all other government buildings within the District have 24 hour security guards, metal detectors and scan belt! s provided by the building itself. For more than a decade, Coach & IV/Club U has had a strong history of commitment and service to the D.C. community. Coach & IV/Club U is on of the few minority-owned businesses left of the historic U street Corridor and has hosted numerous events for D.C. Government officials including former mayors and City Council members. For the past several years, St. Augustine Catholic School, in the neighborhood, has held its annual graduation party at Coach & IV/Club U. Several Breakfast with Santa projects for the needy children have been held at Coach & IV/Club U. Recently, the 50 Year Reunion of Dunbar High School, one of the oldest African-American High Schools in the District of Columbia, was held at Coach IV/Club U. Other activities include Toys for Tots, wedding receptions and government employee functions and galas. Emblematic of the community commitment, significant contributions were ma! de to the Guns off of the Street campaign and Tsunami relief efforts. The long and rich history that Coach & IV/Club U has built, is why it remains an historical part of the African American tradition, for which the U Street Corridor is noted. The citizens from the community have enjoyed a positive relationship with the club and have lauded the owners for their outstanding contributions. In the midst of the discussions regarding the closing of Coach & IV/Club U, one might wonder if the recommendation from officials to permanently revoke the club's liquor license relates to the February 13th tragedy, or is it a direct attack black businesses, which will accelerate their disappearance from U Street. In the past several years, numerous black-owned companies have left, or been forced to relocate from the area and many affordable housing complexes have been replaced with up-scale and expensive housing. Maybe, what officials are really saying is that U Street no longer has a place for Coach & IV/Club U, nor other black businesses that represent the U Street Traditions. For public officials and the media to seek to close down a lawfully operated enterprise, which did everything within it power, to provide a safe environment for its patrons, without more serious reflection, is to deny the legitimate interest of all stake-holders, including the owners and the patrons who wish to exercise their right of peaceful assembly. For such closure to be linked to variables outside the control of the business operator is an especially egregious violation of the rights of all. Thoughtful people must ask why, in the aftermath of this murder, neither public officials nor the media have spoken publicly about police efforts to find the person responsible for killing the victim! There have been no media updates that address the most important issue of all: Who stabbed this young man? Yet, there have been continued attacks, and false media claims regarding the establishment and its owners. This suggests that there is, in fact, a hidden agenda! We should not blame entertainment clubs, movies, grocery stores, schools nor other gathering places for the violent acts of our society. Nor, more specifically, blame Coach & IV/Club U for the violent act of February 13. Violence in our society is a deeper, and more complex issue which we must address. Seeking an easy fix, or a blameless scapegoat, with the purpose of appealing to shallow politicians, will never yield meaningful nor permanent solutions. Thank you for your support. Please come out on Thursday April 7, 2005 at 6:00 for the Peace Rally. Please email the DC Council, as well as, ABRA with your comments and support.(contact information included) abra@dc.gov Attention: Maria M. Delaney, Director sreich@dccouncil.us Attention Linda Gropp, Chair Citywide Call Center (202) 727-1000 MMitchell@tavistalks.com Attention: Tavis Smiley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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