Summerfest Street Performer Assaulted

Three black women attacked a white woman outside Summerfest on Wednesday night.

The black women hit the white woman, a street performer, because she was playing "Minnie the Moocher" on her sax. They hit her because "a white girl" shouldn't play that song.

"Minnie the Moocher" is a jazz song, an American classic, recorded by Cab Calloway in 1931. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.



FOX6 News has the report on the violence:

A saxophone player was assaulted outside the Summerfest grounds near Chicago St. on Wednesday, June 26th around 11 p.m.

26-year-old street performer Cassandra Struve became a target on opening night while she was playing an old jazz song.

“I was playing Minnie the Moocher, classic Blues Brothers song,” said Struve. ”A lady with a child in her hand came up to me, smacked me in my face and said ‘don’t play that.’”

Struve says three African American women confronted her and shouted that a white girl could not play the song.

After being hit, Struve says she was shocked and pushed the woman away, but was hit again.

“Her daughter came out of nowhere and punched me twice in the side of the face,” said Struve. “After she did that I was instantly upset. You know, I mean, I cried.”

A group of workers at a nearby hot dog stand witnessed the attack.

“It was chaotic, you know, it was really chaotic,” said Lee Johnson.

Johnson says he tried to confront the women but they continued walking away. Then he decided to check on Struve.

“I went down to her aid and assisted her the best I could and called 911 for her,” said Johnson.

Struve says she has a bruise on her temple, but will continue to play outside Summerfest.

...Two women, 14- and 24-years-old, were cited for disorderly conduct. A 41-year-old woman was cited for assault and battery and disorderly conduct.

How sick!

According to Cassandra Struve, the assault didn't escalate into physical violence. The attacker hit Struve as she was performing. The attackers believed Struve didn't have "the right" to play the song. In the attackers' world, Struve's skin color means she's not allowed to play "Minnie the Moocher."

No doubt about it, this is a racial incident. Struve was attacked by three black women because she's white.

How much media attention would this be getting if three white women struck a black woman performing outside Summerfest? How much outrage would there be?

My guess is a lot.

I'm glad the violent women are being held accountable. I hope they don't get a little tap on the wrist for their thuggish behavior.

I'm glad others witnessed the assault and came to Struve's aid.

Unfortunately, there are bad people. But thankfully, there are good people, too.

Here's video:


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UPDATE, June 29, 2013: Police now believe street musician who was assaulted mid-song

Milwaukee police now say they believe a street musician who said she was assaulted in a racially motivated incident because of the song she was playing.

...Initially, police said Struve intervened in an incident where a girl with the three women grabbed a bracelet from a street vendor. But late Saturday, police were playing a different tune.

Officers re-interviewed Struve and Lt. Mark Stanmeyer gave this account:

"Based on that interview, we now believe that the sax player was not involved in the vendor dispute, but was struck immediately following when the suspect had an issue with a song the victim was playing. This incident happened in close proximity of the dispute with the vendor and involved the same suspect. The information from today's interview will be included on the assault and battery citation that was issued to the suspect."

More, from FOX6 News.
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UPDATE, July 8, 2013: Buddy Guy meets with Cassandra Struve.