Firecrackers cause of 'panic' at Piedmont Park


September 11, 2009
By: DYANA BAGBY and Ryan Lee



Initial reports by the Atlanta Police Department of people fighting with guns Sept. 6 in Piedmont Park were incorrect, according to new information released by the APD.

Lt. J. Little of the dispatch unit of Zone 5, which supervises Piedmont Park, said Tuesday that police responded to an unruly crowd at the park at about 9 p.m. Sunday after someone threw firecrackers causing many people to run.

No arrests were made and no injuries were reported, Little added. He also said police did not close down the park.

'' There were no guns involved. Someone had thrown firecrackers and some of the crowd ran and caused a little bit of a panic,'' Little said. ''We dispatched units, but there were no arrests made and no injuries.''

Hundreds of people gather in the park each Sunday during Labor Day weekend as part of celebrating Black Gay Pride.

''There were people fighting with guns and that caused people to stampede,'' an APD officer told Ryan Lee at the scene on Sunday as officers set up barricades around the park refusing to allow people in the park and clearing people out. Lee is David Atlanta magazine editor and Southern Voice senior reporter and was at the park at about 9:30 p.m. when people began running.

Atlanta LGBT Officer Dani Lee Harris, who was not at the park but in contact with another officer, told Southern Voice on Sunday at about 10:15 p.m. she was informed ''several arrests'' were made.

Gathering in Piedmont Park during Black Gay Pride is a longstanding tradition. DJs play music and numerous cookouts take place.

'' I like this crowd I like coming to Pride because you can meet a lot of people from all around and you are able to be yourself,'' said Tee, 34, of Detroit, Mich., who was attending her first Black Gay Pride and listening to a DJ play house music in the late afternoon. She declined to give her last name.

'' I've been hearing about this party in the park for years. I've always heard this is the spot to be during Pride,'' she said.

A 38 year old man from Washington, D.C., who identified himself as Jocko No. 2, said this was his first Sunday at Piedmont Park during Pride.

''I've always wanted to come to Pride in the park. I'm impressed because it's very comfortable here. I'm having a great time,'' he said.