[TheThinkTank] Shop Security: Kick them Out?

[jirs0004 at umn.edu]

We are having a problem with people hanging outside of the shop after 
hours. Some of these people have been drinking, doing drugs, and have 
assaulted some of the members of the theatre that we are connected to and 
sublet from. These people are some of the same ones that have been kicked 
out of every establishment of the west bank area of Minneapolis. We need to 
find a way to get them to stop without starting a fight.

The theatre wants to put up signs identifying what is not allowed in the 
space and that indicates that the back patio area is not open after Grease 
Pit hours.

However the grease pit feels that this will 
1) not work. If these people won't respect workers enough to leave when 
asked, why would a sign change their minds?
2) will alienate the part of the community that might be sign abiders and 
help with those who aren't.
3) not help us learn who these people are so that we can know what to 
expect and how to deal with them and the other people back there.
4) cause unneccessary fights when people aren't doing anything.
5) make the space look white dominated (as it would still be ok for the 
shop members who are primarily white and their friends to hang out in the 
back space)

There has also, it seems, been some success with befriending these people 
as some of them have later brought their nieces and nephews into the shop 
and sometimes helped out.

We don't want to have to be the theatre's security but understand the 
legality that we can't have people back there drinking and we are not ok 
with people harassing or assaulting women. The theatre is adamant about a 
sign and it seems are intent on putting one up whether or not we want it.

If you have suggestions about dealing with security issues please let me 
know.

Thanks,
Cali.
GPBS