ICP Takes Legal Action Against FBI Over Gang Report

Throughout the years, Insane Clown Posse has battled rappers like Eminem and Kid Rock, but they may face their biggest challenge to date – the FBI.
ICP, and the group’s imprint Psychopathic Records have hired legal counsel to pursue injunctive relief against the FBI, over the National Gang Intelligence Center’s 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment Report.
The report labeled Insane Clown Posse’s fanbase, commonly known as Juggalos, as a gang.
Some of the fans, who dress up as clowns, have been accused of various crimes, ranging from simple assault to murder.
According to the 2011 report issued by the FBI, the Juggalos have officially been branded as a fast expanding gang of thugs in over 21 states, on par with Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, Aryan Brotherhood and others.
Insane Clown Posse made the announcement in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, the site of their 13th annual “Gathering of the Juggalos” music festival.
“It’s been almost a year since Juggalos were put on the National Gang Threat Assessment and we are hearing too many stories from our fans about the trouble it’s causing them,” ICP’s Shaggy 2 Dope (born Joseph Utsler) said. “Just because you like a music group, doesn’t make you a criminal.”
Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records has hired Howard Hertz of Hertz Schram PC.
“We are seeking individual Juggalos whose rights have been violated as a result of the mistaken belief that they are a ‘gang member,’”
“If you or someone you know has suffered any negative consequence with an employer, governmental representative, including law enforcement, border patrol, airline security, or other local, state or federal governmental agency or employee as a result of your status as a Juggalo, we want to know about it,” Howard Hertz said.
The group has launched a website, Juggalosfightback.com, for fans to stay abreast of developments in their pending case against the FBI.
“We’re not attacking the FBI, but they got this wrong. The Juggalos are not a gang, and that needs to be fixed,” said Violent J (Joseph Bruce).
The group’s lawyer Howard Hertz said he was seeking fans to fill out an online questionnaire, if they had experienced any of the following:
1. Stopped by Border Patrol (U.S., Canadian or otherwise)
2. Stopped or denied ability to fly on an airline
3. Increased criminal sentencing or denial of parole
4. Transfer of a juvenile criminal offender from juvenile court to circuit (“adult”) court
5. Denial of job opportunity, loss of employment
6. Denial of permit to march, boycott, assemble
7. Denial of a vendor to sell Juggalo merchandise
8. An injunction preventing the Juggalos from congregating in any area, wearing Juggalo clothing, displaying tattoos
9. Pulled over or detained by law enforcement
10. Any other denial of a right, liberty, property”