THIS PAST FRIDAY, AT MIDNIGHT, A HORDE (10+) OF POLICE OFFICERS, ACCOMPANIED BY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF LICENSES&INSPECTION DOMINIC VERDI AND OTHER L&I AGENTS, RAIDED AND LOCKED OUT ALL THIRTY MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH PHILADELPHIA ATHENAEUM. THERE WAS NEITHER A WARRANT NOR ADVANCED NOTICE, BUT THE AGENTS WERE CARRYING VIDEOCAMERAS, COLLECTING NAMES, AND ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE RESIDENTS WERE “ENTERTAINERS” AND OTHER PECULIAR QUESTIONS. THE PHILADELPHIA VOLUNTEERS LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS PROVIDED US WITH AN ATTORNEY, WHO PRESSURED L&I AND POLICE INTO GIVING US ENOUGH TIME TO GATHER OUR ESSENTIAL BELONGINGS IN THE DARK. FOR THAT, WE ARE INFINITELY GRATEFUL. WE HAVE NOW BEEN PROVIDED A PRO-BONO CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, TO SEE WHETHER L&I AND POLICE ACTIONS WITHSTAND LEGAL ANALYSIS; THAT IS, WHY AN ATHENAEUM WAS RAIDED AND ITS MEMBERS TREATED LIKE GUNRUNNERS… …MORE LATER… PS>IF ANYONE WISHES TO CONTACT ME, I CAN BE REACHED AT BRANDONJOYCE -(AT)- HOTMAIL.COM PSS> TIMELY ENOUGH, WE ARE MENTIONED IN THIS MONTH’S “NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER, PHILADELPHIA: THE NEXT GREAT CITY” ISSUE, AS WELL AS IN VARIOUS SPOTS (CITYPAPER, WHYY PUBLIC RADIO) FOR THE EVICTION….YOURS