Was a SWAT team really required to break up a Utah rave?
[Read “Stark Raving Mad,” by Farhad Manjoo.] Thanks for the great article. I guess that most people would see this as a regional issue affecting a small underground group, but Salon is correct in viewing it as an ongoing war by the government against a particular youth subculture. It is simply unfathomable why the Utah county authorities would provide permits for a rave with the intent of shutting it down. This is simply malicious, particularly to the promoters. I am not a raver, but was deeply involved in the East Coast rave scene in the early and mid-’90s (now I’m a graphic designer pushing 30). I really don’t even listen to electronic music anymore. I do, however, deeply sympathize with the kids in Utah, who are already at the forefront of a bizarre culture war of sorts with the Mormon community. I remember when a busted party meant a handful of confused local cops who stumbled across your borrowed warehouse. And these were underground parties — no permits or permissions. Still, th
