Tuesday, February 5, 2002
On the lookout for Straight-Edgers
By ERIC FRANCIS -- Calgary Sun
Turns out international terrorists aren't the only ones posing a security threat to the 2002 Winter Games.
A Salt Lake City police official told The Sun yesterday patrol officers will be on the lookout for a vigilant do-gooder gang that targets those who sin.
In fact, so violent are the Straight-Edgers, police are warning visitors to take precautions when roaming the city's downtown core.
"This gang is against anyone who drinks, smokes, does drugs or has pre-marital sex," Det. Duayne Baird said. "They also profess to be against violence, yet they use violence as a means to get their message across."
They've even killed, Baird said, citing a 1998 incident in which a confrontation escalated from a fist fight to a knife fight before ending with a fatal gunshot.
While the gang's numbers and sightings are dwindling because of the incarceration of several members, Baird says the Games could prompt an influx of these radicals from out of state.
"They're basically professional protesters," said Baird, who confirmed Straight-Edgers sometimes can be seen wearing gang jackets with their logo, which features a large X with smaller letters "s" and "e" on either side of it.
"They'd remind you of punk rock types, usually with shaved heads, lots of tattoos and black jackets," he said. "However, they can also blend in with others, making them a little more dangerous because you can't track them."
In a relatively straight-laced city with Mormons making up 50% of the population, Baird says Straight-Edgers aren't necessarily religious types. They're generally just thugs.
"They try to get people to live their lives the way they see fit, but if you don't do what they want you to do they can inflict pain and suffering on you or your business," Baird said.
"They don't want people using furs so they'll set a furrier on fire, or they'll go to a mink farm and release all the minks. They'll go to a concert, wait outside, and three or four of them will gang up on someone smoking and beat the heck out of them."
Despite crime figures well below the nation's average, most would be surprised to hear Salt Lake City has been battling a gang problem for years, giving birth to a gang task force set up a decade ago to track and suppress gang activity.
While the gang could indeed pose a threat to revellers, Baird said he was not about to instruct visitors to keep their cigarettes or fur coats at home.
"I wouldn't tell people not to drink or smoke, but be very aware of your surroundings and stay in groups when you're in the downtown area," he said. "They won't be waiting outside a bar to pounce."
Given their past alignments with Vegans (people who don't eat meat) and animal rights activists, there's a strong chance the Straight-Edgers will surface at the rodeo planned as part of the Olympic cultural festival.
The cowboys versus the do-gooders. That's one event I don't want to miss.
2002 Games Columnists
