Indianapolis, Indiana Mayor Bart Peterson has formed a task force to look into claims of discrimination against African-Americans. In 2001, club owners in the Broad Ripple area met with deputy police chief William Reardon and agreed to limit the amount of hip-hop and rap music that was played in local establishments. When J.Y.’s opened in the area, it came under fire from other bar owners for hosting hiphop parties over the weekend. Other club owners began to complain about the crowds and other businesses in the area started to close earlier than usual. While most of the clientele at Broad Ripple establishment are white, J.Y.’s has mostly black patrons. City Councilman James Bradford didn’t agree that race was a factor, and instead blamed the music. "If you play this gangsta rap, it brings in gang bangers," Bradford told the Indianapolis Star. "I’m not going to let Broad Ripple get out of hand. I’m not going to wait until someone gets shot. When you put the wrong type of music together, it generates problems." "They are definitely causing trouble," Steve Ross, owner of The Vogue nightclub added. "They have caused problems by bringing people who have a lack of respect and have very big attitudes." Indianapolis Police Department records show 86 calls of serious crimes to The Vogue’s address, as opposed to 27 calls to J.Y.’s. "I’m concerned because there is a suggestion that not everybody is welcome in Broad Ripple," Peterson said. "If that is the perception of some people, then it is an issue we should examine."
Indianapolis, Indiana Mayor Bart Peterson has
formed a task force to look into claims of discrimination against African-Americans.
In 2001, club owners in the Broad Ripple area
met with deputy police chief William Reardon and agreed to limit the amount
of hip-hop and rap music that was played in local establishments.
When J.Y.’s opened in the area, it came under
fire from other bar owners for hosting hiphop parties over the weekend.
Other club owners began to complain about the
crowds and other businesses in the area started to close earlier than usual.
While most of the clientele at Broad Ripple establishment
are white, J.Y.’s has mostly black patrons.
City Councilman James Bradford didn’t agree that
race was a factor, and instead blamed the music.
"If you play this gangsta rap, it brings
in gang bangers," Bradford told the Indianapolis Star. "I’m not going
to let Broad Ripple get out of hand. I’m
not going to wait until someone gets shot. When you put the wrong type of music
together, it generates problems."
"They are definitely causing trouble,"
Steve Ross, owner of The Vogue nightclub added. "They have caused problems
by bringing people who have a lack of respect and have very big attitudes."
Indianapolis Police Department records show
86 calls of serious crimes to The Vogue’s address, as opposed to 27 calls to
J.Y.’s.
"I’m concerned because there is a suggestion
that not everybody is welcome in Broad Ripple," Peterson said. "If
that is the perception of some people, then it is an issue we should examine."