[Peace] [csawn] Protest Police Shut Down of HotHouse! (fwd)

[Matthew Reichel]

	This is eerily familiar to what has happened to the imc.
	Perhaps inquiry into why similar venues on the same weekend is in
order?

	-
	matt


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 11 May 2003 02:57:23 -0000
From: jlpchicago <julie at beyondtoday.com>
Reply-To: csawn at yahoogroups.com
To: csawn at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [csawn] Protest Police Shut Down of HotHouse!

HotHouse, the non-profit club well-known not only for its vibrant,
multicultural entertainment, but its enthusiastic support for other
progressive community projects, was raided by the Chicago Police
Department on Friday night.  Put in the context of growing Chicago
police harassment of other left-of-center organizing projects since
the March 20th Lake Shore Drive protest, this is an attack that we
ignore at our peril.

A rep from the Emergency Response Cmte of the Chicago Coalition
Against War & Racism (CCAWR) spoke with a HotHouse rep earlier today
about what they wanted people to do in support of them.  At this point
HotHouse is still deciding their next steps, and is asking people to
assist them by helping publicize the news about the attack on them.
There is a May 30th court date regarding the raid, but HotHouse is
still deciding how they would like the community to show its support
on that date.  Please stay tuned for details.  HotHouse's message
about the raid follows below.
--CCAWR

HOTHOUSE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCE OF
LEGENDARY CUBAN BAND ORQUESTA ARAGON

At 8:45 p.m. tonight, Friday May 9, ten undercover officers of the
Chicago Police Department ordered HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo, and its
management to cease and desist all operations, claiming the non-profit
performing arts venue was operating with improper Public Place of
Amusement licenses.

At the time of the citation, HotHouse was transitioning from a 7 p.m.
performance to a sold-out 10 p.m. show of the legendary Cuban charanga
band Orquesta Aragon. A crowd of ticketholders to the 10 p.m.
performance had formed an orderly line outside the venue in
anticipation of the concert.

HotHouse management asserts that all licenses for the venue are in
good standing and proper order. Management believes that the raid,
which will cause untold financial losses to the venerable non-profit
cultural center, was politically motivated.

The crowd of ticketholders, many of whom had come from as far away as
Nebraska to see the rare performance of the Cuban orchestra, left the
premises in an orderly manner. The patrons of HotHouse, along with its
management and supporters, are looking to the City of Chicago and its
agencies for answers.

A non-profit performing arts center, HotHouse is dedicated to exposing
audiences to a wide range of cultural expression, encouraging respect
for our ethnic diversity, and promoting a greater understanding of
differing traditions and perspectives.

HotHouse, the Center for International Performance and Exhibition 31
E. Balbo Chicago, IL 60605 312-362-9707; 312-362-9708 fax Visit our
web site: www.hothouse.net


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Rent DVDs Online - Over 14,500 titles.
No Late Fees & Free Shipping.
Try Netflix for FREE!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/YoVfrB/XP.FAA/uetFAA/4umplB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
csawn-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/