UPSET OVER POLICE RAID

When looking at the flyer for the "drug party" as David Steinkraus put it
in his article "Police corral hundreds at rave party" (Nov. 4, 2002) you
will see that it states that all people entering the building will be
searched and that no drugs or weapons will be allowed in the building and
no alcohol for people under the age of 21. When I got there I did not see
any drug usage or sale and was fine with that. It was all about having a
fun time for most of us. Three or four people bring drugs and ruin it for
the rest of us.

"It was a rave, a type of party known for a mix of music and recreational
drugs such as Ecstasy, police said."

Raves are known for this sure, but anyone who has actually been to one
knows that it isn't as bad as made out to be. Bars are known to cause drunk
drivers. Anyone going to get busted for that? Probably not. Most people
(not all as that would be a lie) aren't there for drugs. I'm sure a few
people were doing it, but why hand out tickets for everyone there? As you
can see our tax dollars are well spent keeping kids from doing anything on
a Saturday night that might be remotely fun.

I don't do drugs and I don't see why dancing at a party where someone is
would be a crime. Everyone there was issued tickets for $968 for
"disorderly conduct, unruly house controlled substances." I don't see how
my conduct was unruly. When they police told us to sit, I sat; when they
told us to move, I moved. How is that unruly? I was there to dance and that
is all I did. I paid $15 to get in and now I will have to pay $968 to leave
the place? Explain how that is fair. I for one will be showing up in court
with the hundreds of others at that party and it will most likely cost you
more in tax dollars to do that than they will make in tickets. And for
what? Just to keep kids on the street where they don't get caught. If
Racine would have posted police inside the place I would doubt that any of
this would have happened. Help us have a good time and stay off the streets
instead or punishing us for finding something to do on a Saturday night.

Andy Nelson

Union Grove