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Legislators and lawmakers picket outside casino raid

Posted on July 3rd, 2010

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Protesters, a group of black legislators and white Democrats gathered outside the closed Greenetrack casino, in protest along with over 400 casino workers that have just lost their jobs. This is after Alabama Governor laid the bill to shut down the Greenetrack casino and seize its bingo machines. The rally went on through the high sun but only resulted to 16 being arrested.

The arrested protesters were joined by crowds of laid off workers that stood outside the casino while state troops collected the electronic bingo machines inside. In total there were about 800 machines confiscated. The crowd cheered on after the 16 were freed. One senator, among those arrested was Sen. Bobby Singleton of Greensboro, said “We went to jail for poor folks. We went to jail for justice” siding with the sentiments of those who just got laid off.

Director Christopher Murphy of Alabama Public Safety explained that the 16 protesters were arrested after being in the way and blocking state troopers for 12 hours, after permission have been released from the Supreme Court, giving a go signal to enter Greenetrack casino and securing 800 bingo machines inside. The group was later released on a $1,000 signature bond. The Supreme Court later on ordered the police to continue the seizure of the gaming machines in the midst of a thinning crowd outside.

The Alabama government have continually made threats of raid, and have actually engaged in raiding about 2 dozen non-Indian casinos already, with the exemption of Victoryland, the largest casino in the state housing over 6,000 machines. A plea to also raid Victoryland is now being filed with the Alabama Supreme Court, this is after ruling from the court has expressed clearly that electronic bingo machines are considered illegal slot machines.

Chairman John Rogers of the Legislative Black Caucus joined the arrest but is not recommending such gesture further, his only message is for the state to not “ take our jobs away.” Rogers also expressed his opinion that the issue is not typically racist but pertains to the economy still, “ It just happens to be blacks who are suffering the most,” Rogers said. Alabama Governor Bob Riley explains that the move was not targeted based on races as the effort to put a stop to expanded gambling has stretched over to other places and all over the state.

Ron Sparks, State Agriculture Commissioner also joined the crowds of people outside Greenetrack to show his support for the casino workers. Sparks is a supporter of the legalization of expanded gambling in the state, and he believes the involvement of state troops and the raid are “ nonsense” that he vows to help in stopping. John Tyson Jr., the gambling task force commander is quick to snap and comment on Spark’s opinion, “Apparently, Sparks prefers illegal gambling and the corruption it causes to the rule of law.”

Greenetrack CEO, Luther Winn was also one of the 16 protesters arrested Thursday morning. However he didn’t appear to be angry at the arrests made. Instead he was more concerned with the hundreds of workers that lost their jobs. “I’m devastated for the 400 employees of Greenetrack who don’t have a job now,” said Winn. This situation hits the hardest for the laid off workers like one LaToya Pelts, a single mom of 2 boys who recently purchased a house and a car and counts on only her job in Greenetrack as a source of living. “How does he expect me to take care of my children now?” said Pelts.