The Fort Wayne City Council issued a unanimous statement Wednesday condemning the attack on a Black patron of a local bar by white motorcycle gang members.
The statement regarding the May 30 fight at Pike’s Pub, which is located just outside the city limits in Allen County, was issued following a number of residents’ comments at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.
In the statement, city council members publicly acknowledged the bar’s possible involvement in the incident.
Online petitions and protests have called for not only a criminal investigation into what appeared to be the involvement of Outlaw motorcycle gang members, but also an investigation and sanction by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission into the bar’s licensing.
Council members urged the community to reaffirm its stance against hate and to “prioritize safety and accountability in every neighborhood, on every block.”
They thanked everyone who spoke out in support of the victim, James Simmons, and for keeping the situation in the public eye.
The case is still being investigated, according to the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office.
