"Eagle Eight" Case Goes to Trial Thursday

By Jim Burress

Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Municipal judge Crystal Gaines has postponed the trial several times, but it appears the Eagle employees will finally get their day in court.

The eight are charged with city code violations, including dancing in their underwear without a permit, says their attorney Alan Begner.

"Dancing in your underwear in a nightclub violates no city ordinances and therefore does not violate the ordinance as charged. I'm confident we'll be able to prove that."

Much of the focus so far has been on the Atlanta Police Department's handling of the September raid. Patrons say police were abusive and illegally searched and detained them. And it's those allegations that have caused Atlanta's LGBT community to come together in support of the Eagle Eight.

Many will attend the hearing in a show of support, says community activist Laura Gentle.

"Clearly people have been upset and certainly the people there were upset," said Gentle. "But their reaction to it has been to work through the system. And the system up to this point has really failed them. And so the point of everyone gathering is to bring as many people there to be witness to what goes on as possible."

Tension continues to run high between APD and the gay community, and some are concerned about a flyer circulating that could escalate that tension.

The poster shows a police officer holding a baton, pointing a finger. The caption reads, "I'm going to kick your [ass] and get away with it." In bright red letters, it calls for supporters to "Fight Back."

Gentle says fight doesn't mean in the physical sense.

"We can fight back through the system by showing up, by witnessing what the city's doing, and how they're handling it."

Meanwhile, a civil case against APD and the city is still pending, as is an internal police investigation.

Jim Burress, WABE News.