On Monday, February 17, 2003, people ranging from the ages to 21 to 60 were getting dress for a night of dancing and mingling, at the E2 nightclub in Chicago. In the middle of winter, but not the windy city that usual occurs during this time of year, in Chicago. Each had plan their evening at E2 nightclub, which they had no idea what would take place in the next few hours. The patrons were of all nationalities, mostly African Americans. This club was one of the most attended in the near downtown area. On this day, a fight, a stampede broke out of nowhere, killing 21 people and injured over 50 people. The E2 nightclub patrons did not know at the time, there was a “ narrow escape” to even breathe again at that moment.
It has been said; that a fight broke out on the second floor of the club, between two women, each of them quarreling about the attire each other had on. The quarreling began to escalate to a fight.” The cause of the stampede was reported to be the use of pepper spray, which was use by the security guards, to break up the fight. Both the toxic spray and the panic from those who were unsure of the chemical that was used, many of the patrons rush to the nearby exits. The doors, normally open, were closed after security guards removed the participants in a fight. The only exit that was known to the patrons was the narrow, steep front stairwell. However, the narrow door opened inward, against fire codes.” This situation could have been avoided, if the guards would have turned the lights on, and dismissed patrons over the intercom, by saying the party is over!
A patron by the name of Amishoov Blackwell, a 30 year old, stated that “ people were being trapped underneath you, so were actually standing on people’s heads and we didn’t even know it. It was just bodies laying everywhere. One man asked me to just hold his hand, if I don’t make it, tell my mom I love her, I can’t breathe and the man collapsed.” People were stacked high on top of each other. Some died from asthma attacks, anxiety attacks, suffocation and just being trampled to death.
On the contrary, if you were there what would you have done in that split second of your life? Life is just a narrow escape between breathes. Each person’s life must have flashed before their very eyes. What if all exits were accessible, would more have survived? Fights and disagreements happen at parties all the time. This mishap was devastating, people lost their lives just for a good time. Families lost love ones because of “ a narrow escape. Due to the tragedies at the E2 nightclub, it has been closed, family members are still morning their lost. Today marks the fourth year anniversary of this tragedy at the E2 Nightclub. The owner was charged with negligence and manslaughter, he was acquitted.
