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Attack fears and locked exits a fatal mix at club (Jackson blames Bush?)
SMH ^
| February 19, 2003
Posted on 02/18/2003 10:20:39 AM PST by Indy Pendance
Shouts of "poison gas" and fears of a terrorist attack may have fuelled a fatal stampede that erupted when Mace was used to break up a fight at a crowded Chicago nightclub.
Several locked exits and blocked doors - some had bags of laundry stored in front of them - added to the chaos which saw at least 21 people crushed to death and 50 more injured.
The crush happened on early Monday morning after bouncers at E2 club used Mace and pepper spray to halt a fight between two women.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, who visited victims and survivors, said those inside told him someone had yelled "poison gas" and that fears of a terrorist attack added the panic.
Chicago's police chief, Terry Hillard, yesterday promised a full investigation of the tragedy. "Right now our investigation is at full tilt. It will be a very painstaking process," he said.
Mr Hillard said police were receiving conflicting accounts of how the fight started, who sprayed Mace and why, and how people died. He added that video footage from the club's security cameras would be examined.
City officials said the second-storey club was open in violation of a court order and that they would seek criminal contempt charges against the owners. The club had been shut down since July because of 11 fire and building code violations.
The commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department, James Joyce, said investigators had found numerous code violations at the club, including a number of locked and blocked doors. Bags of laundry were stored in front of several doors.
"There are people who were trying to get out who could not get out," Mr Joyce said. "We can't explain how management ... would allow that to happen."
Between 1500 and 2000 people had been at the E2 dance club on Chicago's south side, celebrating the long President's Day weekend. So many needed medical help that some bodies were carried out to ambulances by clubbers as emergency officers treated others who had piled up at the nightclub's one double door.
Families and friends of victims scoured hospitals on Monday looking for their loved ones. One, Marcia Green, was trying to find her 19-year-old sister, Charita Rhodes. "She never came home," she said. "The last time she was seen was with a friend, holding hands and trying to get out of the building, but I think they got separated.
"This is not like her not to call. It looks like we are going to have to go to the morgue."
A dozen bouquets and three white teddy bears sat in front of the club on Monday, with a card that said "We Miss You - RIP. - Keep Yo Heads Up!" Just after midday, a young girl stopped by to add a brown teddy with the message, "Our prayers are with you."
TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: Lance Romance
I hope God doesn't punish bad spelling.
You should, since half the posters on this site would definitely burn.
To: FITZ
Jessie Jackson; Father of the Year in Chicago.
To: KC_Conspirator
What are you talking about? You are blaming the president for a local fire ordinance violation? Are you nuts? Please read before you reply. I said I did not object to the specific statement attributed to Jackson in the article.
How on earth do you interpret that as blaming the president for a local fire ordinance violation? I did no such thing.
Check the mirror before you challenge someone else's sanity.
To: KC_Conspirator; PBRSTREETGANG
You are blaming the president for a local fire ordinance violation? Are you nuts? Classic FR hysterics. Book marked for "Best of Reading Comprehension"
24
posted on
02/18/2003 11:06:37 AM PST
by
TankerKC
(Analyzing Iraq requires intellectual work, spouting off about the US requires only attitude.)
To: FITZ
He's already decided the black owners who knowingly disobeyed city ordinances are not to be blamed. Who is black? The club's owners or promoters? (They're different people you know) Personally, I think both will be on the hook. It shouldn't matter if they're purple.
25
posted on
02/18/2003 11:11:13 AM PST
by
Smogger
To: Smogger
Looks to me like Jackson's trying to shift the blame here:
On Tuesday, Jackson called for an independent investigation of the tragedy by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. He said the club owner should not be made a scapegoat and the city shares some blame for not enforcing codes, adding, ''It is the job of inspectors and officials to do just that.''
The CITY is to blame?!?!? Isn't that kind of like saying the police are to blame for a crime b/c they didn't stop a criminal?
To: PBRSTREETGANG; TankerKC
I have heard Jackson all day and he basically blamed the Bush administration for creating a "hysteria" and the quote here does not reflect the extent of his rantings (not to mention CNN as well). Do a little reading of recent articles on this and you will find this checks out.
To: KC_Conspirator
Will do. Can you refer me to any links where he mentions Bush?
28
posted on
02/18/2003 11:40:19 AM PST
by
TankerKC
(Analyzing Iraq requires intellectual work, spouting off about the US requires only attitude.)
To: creamedcorn
In reality Jackson can't do anything but help the club reopen. Jess can't criticize a the friendly administration in Chicago and not even the police. JJ gets less and less important these days.
29
posted on
02/18/2003 11:46:32 AM PST
by
oyez
(Is this a great country...........Or what?)
To: KC_Conspirator
"he basically blamed the Bush administration for creating hysteria"
It wouldn't surprise me, but until I see a specific quote I'll give JJ a pass. As far as hysteria is concerned, it is the likes of JJ who seem to try their best to keep blacks in a perpetual state of fear and paranoia.
To: Indy Pendance
Something tells me that this will backfire in JJ's face the way the DC sniper made Caylpso Louie look like what he is. These so called champions of the oppressed do more harm to the monorities they claim to represent than the people they claim to be fighting. Next they will try and sue GW for "civil rights violations" because of this horrible incident irregardless of the fact that they themselves contributed to it by helping the "club" to remain open in spite of the city's efforts to shut it down for safty/fire code violations...
31
posted on
02/18/2003 11:59:42 AM PST
by
cavtrooper21
(Why walk when you can ride?)
To: Indy Pendance
One of Jesse Jackson's sons owns a major Anheuser-Busch distributor in the Chicago area. A little research will probably show that this distributor had an exclusive contract to sell beer to this illegal establishment. Anyone want to bet on that one?
To: Indy Pendance
And ... Bush is at fault because ...???
33
posted on
02/18/2003 1:11:20 PM PST
by
CyberAnt
( Yo! Syracuse)
To: Alberta's Child
He's definately connected to this mess somehow......remember he was one of the first people 'on the scene' after it happened.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
To: doug from upland
>> A young black woman was just impregnated by Jesse Jackson. He blamed George Bush. <<
ROTFLMAO!!!!
35
posted on
02/18/2003 1:27:12 PM PST
by
appalachian_dweller
(He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.)
To: KC_Conspirator; TankerKC
I have heard Jackson all day and he basically blamed the Bush administration for creating a "hysteria"I heard the tape on Rush's show earlier today. Jackson suggested that people in the club may have panicked because they thought they were under attack by bin Laden!!
Sure Jesse, this night club in Chicago is no doubt at the top of the al Qaeda target list.
Rev. Jackson will be on Donahue tonight so maybe he will elaborate on this brilliant theory.
To: Norman Arbuthnot
Sure Jesse, this night club in Chicago is no doubt at the top of the al Qaeda target list. Why couldn't it be a target? Look at the places that get hit in Israel. Supermarkets, bus stops and the like. These people could reasonably believe that they we in the middle of a terrorist attack and that would add to the panic.
I still don't see how this is a hit on Bush anyway.
37
posted on
02/18/2003 1:53:18 PM PST
by
TankerKC
(Analyzing Iraq requires intellectual work, spouting off about the US requires only attitude.)
To: Ciexyz
If "Reverend" Jackson and/or Rainbow/Push are tied to this nightclub remaining open despite obvious code violations, then they too have legal exposure and should be named as defendants--and we know they have deep pockets.
RD
To: Indy Pendance
Once again,African leadership fails to take responsibility!
To: TankerKC
It is Bush's fault that Americans are nervous!
40
posted on
02/18/2003 2:43:53 PM PST
by
maica
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