THEATER GROUP DEFENDS FUND-RAISER AGAINST RAVE CHARGES

RACINE -- The group that organized a party that was busted by Racine police
on Saturday is encouraging the hundreds of partygoers who were ticketed to
contact the American Civil Liberties Union.

Meanwhile, Racine police plan to meet with the City Attorney's Office on
Friday to lay out their evidence against the accused, which is the first
step in the prosecution process.

The Uptown Theatre Group's Web site, www.hauntedtheater.com, includes a
link to an incident form of the ACLU. The Web site said the police bust of
the fund-raising event was "indescribable, unlawful, chaotic, and a major
violation of people's civil rights."

No incident reports had been received from partygoers as of Wednesday
evening, according to Micabil Diaz, legal director for the Milwaukee
chapter of the ACLU. "We've been contacted by (the Uptown Theatre Group),"
he said.

Diaz said the group was told to make the incident form available to those
who were ticketed, and have them submit it to the ACLU. At that point, the
information would be evaluated and the organization would make a decision
as to whether it would support the partygoers' cause.

Police ticketed hundreds of people Saturday at what they said was a rave --
a party known for a mix of music and recreational drugs such as Ecstasy.
Organizers of the party said the event was a fund-raiser for the Uptown
Theatre Group, a nonprofit organization trying to renovate the old Uptown
Theatre.

Three people were arrested on drug charges and another 445 citations were
written out accusing people of being patrons or keepers of a disorderly
house. The party was in the basement banquet hall at Tradewinds Village,
1518 Washington Ave.

There were about 450 people at the party, most from the Milwaukee and
Chicago areas, but also some from St. Louis, Baltimore and Arizona. The
crow d was young, between about 17 and 25. Police Chief David Spenner said
60 to 65 were younger than 18, and about half a dozen were as young as 15.

Gary Thompson, executive director of the Uptown Theater Group, called the
party a disaster that ruined the reputation of his organization and
Tradewinds. He said he and those who attended were angry at what they
called police overreaction.

According to his group's Web site, "Everyone who was illegally detained and
issued frivolous tickets had their basic constitutional rights violated. We
did nothing wrong by sponsoring our event, and you (partygoers) did nothing
wrong by attending. If three people out of 450 were found to have drugs on
them, that is their individual problem. Less than 1 percent of people were
found with drugs on them. They deserve to be arrested. Our organization in
no way supports or condones the use of drugs."

Police reports said officers found more than 100 Ecstasy pills, plus
smaller amounts of Ketamine, cocaine andmarijuana.

Spenner said the drugs were all over the floor after officers busted the
party. "There's no way they all fell out of one pocket," he said. "The cops
did the right thing."

Police will be meet Friday with the city attorney. Spenner said officers
will then lay out all of the evidence they collected and prepare to testify
about the party. However, the decision to prosecute the party-goers will be
up to the city attorney. "If they find out some error was made, that would
be taken into account," Spenner said.

Spenner is also interested in discussing how the parents of the underage
teens who were cited will be notified. "I'm going to press hard to make
sure that the parents understand what they consented to have their children
attend," he said. "How that can best be arranged, that's what I'm
interested in."

Spenner said the investigation is ongoing. "We want to make sure everybody
that's responsible is held accountable," he said.

A press release issued on the Haunted Theatre Web site maintains that the
annual Haunted House Attraction at the Uptown Theatre was open throughout
the month of October as a fund-raising event for the nonprofit group
attempting to restore it, as well as an opportunity to raise awareness of
the historical landmark and the restoration efforts. The party was supposed
to be the finale to that fund-raising effort.

The group promoted Saturday's Haunted House Party for the last three weeks
in October, and was told by police one day prior to the event that it could
not be held in the theater because it did not have the proper permit.
Instead of canceling, the group rented the basement of Tradewinds for the
party.

According to a press release from the Racine police, undercover officers,
acting on information from the U.S. Customs Service, went to the party,
were directed through the Haunted Theater at 1430 Washington Ave., and then
to the basement of Tradewinds Village.

Sgt. William Macemon, spokesman for the department, said the officers were
sold Ecstasy and Ketamine at the party. "They observed drug use throughout
the party," he said.

If the undercover officers saw the illegal activity going on, it is
reasonable to assume everyone else at the party did as well, Macemon said.
"They should leave," he said. "If they don't, they're contributing to the
problem."