Atlanta Gay Bar Raid Protested

Some 60 demonstrators stood in pouring rain outside Atlanta City Hall on Saturday afternoon to protest police conduct in a recent raid on a popular gay bar, vowing to keep the issue in the political spotlight.

Demonstrators, including Jeff Graham of Equality Georgia, shown in the video, denounced the raid at the Atlanta Eagle on September 10. During the raid, 62 patrons were handcuffed, placed on the floor for over one hour, and illegally searched while patrons claim police shouted antigay insults. Eight bar employees were arrested.

On Saturday, demonstrators challenged the rationale of a bar raid at a time when violent crime across the city is rising, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"Saturday's crowd suspected homophobia drove the police, and the demonstrators said they would continue to exert political pressure -- especially during the mayoral election," reported the Journal-Constitution.

The police department, which is conducting an internal investigation, said that illegal drug transactions and open sex were the reason for the bar raid.