As Reported in the: Hatchet Herald

This Journal was supposed to be focused on all the flavor of this year’s Gathering of the Juggalos but unfortunately that is not to be at this time. Believe me when I say that I highly doubt anyone is more upset at what took place in Kaiser, Missouri than me. We at Psychopathic had been hard at work for months on this year’s Gathering of the Juggalos as we signed contracts, planned events, called contractors, drafted maps and built a new Gathering website. It was a great time for everyone up here because karma was very high and I believe I can speak for everyone when I say we all believed in what we were doing and loved the idea of going to a new location.

The campground where the Gathering was to take place this year was a centrally located area nestled deep in the Missouri woods and adjacent to the Ozark River. It was a perfect spot to bring the new Gathering to life. The river was controlled by a dam so that at night when the river stopped flowing it would almost immediately disappear so you could walk across the riverbed comprised of smooth stones to get to a huge 16 -acre Juggalo Island! There was even going to be a stage in the middle of a cornfield and civilization (including hotels) only a few miles away. There was no doubt in my mind that the vibe was going to be totally different this year and therefore new and exciting. It was a perfect spot to set the stage for a truly epic time of flavor.

I myself had been talking daily with the owners of the campground that we dubbed Harlequin Park and they were very receptive to having the Gathering on their grounds. I didn’t hold anything back and they understood the pros and cons to having the event on their property. But they were really open minded and they even host a big biker rally at the campground every year. They also understood that Juggalos love to have a good time but that we are cool ass ninjas who work, sleep and eat like anyone else, even though some would simply write us off as a gang because they fear what they don’t understand and hate what they can’t control. The owners understood the problems with the Gathering in the past and were still willing to accept us with open arms and I will always give mad respect to them for that.

When we first announced the location of the Gathering everything seemed amazing. Juggalos everywhere seemed excited, tickets were selling faster than I had ever seen, and there was a huge show of support for the Gathering being held somewhere new. I was giddy as a small child because it seemed that all of our hard work was paying off and for the simple fact that providing flavor for our family is one of my greatest karmic highs. There was no doubt in my mind that things were gearing up to be one of the best Gatherings we have ever had.

Then the calls stated coming in. The campground owners were concerned because there were quite a few people in their town who were raising hell over the fact that this event was going to take place. Much of this noise can be attributed to the vast amount of press generated by the recent lawsuit filed against the FBI by Psychopathic Records and the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) for wrongly accusing the Juggalos of being a gang. Some even started a petition while others began to start a boycott on their business so that locals would stop camping on their grounds and renting out their race track for four-wheeling. Others simply showed up at their door step to shout and yell at them. Not to even mention the nonstop calls pouring in day and night. Everyone was saying a gang was coming to their town and some were even arming themselves as if gearing up for war. Apparently they felt as if Juggalos were somehow monsters that would be roaming there streets at night causing destruction. It was probably the biggest news to happen down there for a long time. Since no one could yell at us directly they all took out their frustrations on the owners of the campground.

I began calling key people in Kaiser who wanted to talk to us about the Gathering and began arranging meetings for a trip down there as a show of respect. I wanted to personally address their concerns as an attempt to diffuse the situation if but a little. However, before that could even happen, the media would not let up. They seemed to be the worst. In their quest to spin everything in a negative light for the sake of a good story, they painted a picture that sent fear ripping throughout the community until the point when the campground owners could not take it anymore and so after many talks on the phone with me trying to come up with any solution to still make it work, they decided to pull the plug.

But I want everyone to know they did so not out of fear of the Juggalos, but out of fear of what some of the closed-minded individuals in their community would do. They did it so that they would not be ostracized by their neighbors. In the end, those few people who were crying like frightened babies ended up being the monsters who were ruled by their own fear. I don’t blame the camp owners for what they did; I am only saddened by this series of unfortunate events.

Up here at Psychopathic it is all about highs and lows. It seems like one day everything is magic and flowing with good positive energy and then bam!…something happens that seems to take the wind out of your sails and leaves you feeling like a deflated balloon. This is one of those moments. Even this Journal was supposed to be me reflecting on how dope the Gathering was going to be this year and instead it seems that it can only be focused on why it temporarily fell apart.

However, all is far from lost. Believe that! Our network of Juggalo fam across the country has been sending in dozens of emails with new possible Gathering locations including a few huge Juggalo owned properties. We are diligently at work utilizing all our skills and experience to figure out what is the best option and to quickly lock in the new Gathering location. There will be a Gathering this year without question. This may take a few weeks to get everything in order but our motivation level has not faltered. We are determined to fight the oppressors that be, overcome all obstacles and school it to levels seldom seen before as we always have and will always continue to do. We thank you all for your continued support and understanding in these turbulent times. This is indeed one of the most difficult but also exciting times in Juggalo history and I am honored to stand by the side of Juggalos everywhere as we refuse to lay down. Just know that the blood we shed will not be wasted and we will not be denied our freedoms and right to assemble. We will not be denied our family reunion!

From lakeexpo.com: