Council OKs scrutinized Pride permit
Rarely does a permit process undergo the kind of scrutiny seen at the June 16 Owatonna City Council meeting, but in this case, there was a precedent.
After more than 20 minutes of discussion, council members approved the event permit for Rainbowatonna Pride in the Park, set for July 11 in Central Park.
The additional scrutiny comes after last year’s event, when protesters used bullhorns and speakers to disrupt the LGBTQ+ celebration of Pride Month. They stood in front of the stage during speeches and performances, reportedly yelling slurs and confronting attendees – including children.
In the days following, there were heated discussions about the response of the Owatonna Police Department, though the event organizers had hired their own security.
The backlash and safety concerns voiced by the public prompted OPD Chief Jeff Mundale to revisit city ordinances as well as his own department’s policies and procedures.
That led to Rainbowatonna and OPD together creating a plan designed to ensure the safety – and constitutional rights – of all.
An estimated 800 people are expected to attend, including guests and vendors/participants. Though Rainbowatonna has a permit for the event, the park remains open to the public, too.
The permit allows the organizers to ask people to leave if they’re deemed disruptive; the southwest corner of the park will be a “free speech zone.”
No matter where the event has been held over the past several years, protesters have shown up; the majority of the most outspoken group is from out of town.
“Are these hooligans going to show up again?” Councilor Dan Boeke asked during the presentation provided by Mundale, Lucy Larson and Alex Seifert, both of Rainbowatonna.
“I think it’s safe to anticipate that they will,” said Seifert, who is treasurer of the group. “What we also know about the group that has joined us in the past several years is they are not interested in physical conflict, and they do typically follow directions of law enforcement.”
This year, they won’t have to look far: Mundale said there will be OPD officers on the site, along with a new security team hired by Rainbowatonna.
That comes at a cost, he acknowledged, but emphasized that the decision was about safety at the event. Having officers there, Mundale said, is no different than their presence at other public events with large crowds such as Downtown Thursday, parades or Relay for Life.
He, too, expects the protesters to return, and again defended the decision to have trained officers present.
“They like to test law enforcement,” Mundale said. “They like to see where the boundaries are at, and they will push it. Policing these events in public spaces is very challenging. We have to help protect the event permit and the attendees there trying to enjoy their day.
“Meanwhile, at the same time, we have to balance the interests of the people who wish to protest,” he said. “We find ourselves in the middle, and we have to be able to interpret these rules and regulations on the spot.”
Since last year, the city revised its noise ordinance; amplifiers are banned from public spaces unless the user has permission from the city. No such permit has been requested for that day – except by Rainbowatonna.
Boeke worried about the response if the harassment gets out of hand.
“Last year it got to be a real fiasco and certainly an ugly scene,” he said, asking if the organizers would approve of “Gestapo-like” tactics – using batons to push the protesters out of the way if they are loud and trying to push onto the sidewalk.
“I don’t want Owatonna to get in the middle,” Boeke said. “I want everyone to be safe, everyone to enjoy the afternoon that’s planned. I hope it’s a terrific day for you, but I don’t want to see Owatonna get in the middle of some civil rights lawsuit, either,” regarding the ability to protest.
Organizers have met with the city attorney and the prosecutor to work through legal issues, Seifert said. The plan outlines permitted places, which were not in place last year, she said.
“If they are in front of the stage, they are asked to leave,” she explained. “If they do not leave, then it becomes the police department’s decision, per the designated use ordinance.”
Seifert also noted that although the permit does not require it, Rainbowatonna has insurance for the event.
The extensive planning and requirements gave Boeke pause.
“It’s kind of a sad statement of affairs in our society when one group wants to celebrate and we have to go through all of this stuff. What’s it coming to?” he said.