ACLU threatens lawsuit after Seattle denies allow to CHOP celebration occasion

A sign on a barricade reads “Welcome to CHOP” on June 20, 2020 at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Pine Street in the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest Zone in Seattle. (AP Photo / Ted S. Warren)

The city is trying to close an event this weekend commemorating CHOP and celebrating black culture. Earlier this week, Seattle Parks and Recreation denied approval for the event, hosted by the nonprofit CHOP Art, due to begin on Friday, June 11th at Cal Anderson Park.

But it says the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) from Washington – not so soon. You and the Association of Public Defenders consider the city’s actions to be unconstitutional.

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The organizer and president of CHOP Art, Mark Anthony, says the event is not a protest but a celebration.

“I want people to come out and celebrate African American freedom, celebrate freedom for all, and celebrate black culture,” said Anthony.

Anthony was one of the leaders during the CHOP protests last summer. He said the city of Seattle reached out to him late last year to help reactivate Cal Anderson Park.

“They reached out to me so that I could offer positive programs that focus on art and promote diversity,” said Anthony. “It seemed like a great opportunity to hold our first event live and in person.”

But after the city filed the paperwork for a CHOP anniversary and June 10 celebration, the city refused approval three days before the event.

“Full of shock,” said Anthony.

He has met monthly with the city for more than half a year, and even more frequently in recent months.

In a statement, Seattle Parks and Recreation cited the violence during last summer’s CHOP protest, which included two deadly shootings:

“We will not be giving approval for this event because we have heard from community members who have raised concerns that events to celebrate or commemorate the events in Cal Anderson in the summer of 2020 would be disturbing or even traumatic to the community.”

Anthony said once he got the justification he believed his freedom of speech had been violated. He said the event will continue to take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as planned.

“The idea that any number of concerned citizens could rob me of my rights is absolutely insane to me,” said Anthony.

The city added:

“Sensitive to these concerns, and with caution due to the violence in and around the park last summer and fall, and the significant restoration and clean-up work required to restore the park, SPR is using higher than usual safety standards to process all permit applications to Cal Anderson to evaluate. “

The city’s reasons for denying approval immediately caught the attention of the Washington ACLU and the Public Defender Association.

“It is such a clear violation of the first amendment that I was quite shocked. You cannot refuse approval based on the content of the event, ”said Lisa Nowlin, an attorney with the ACLU in Washington.

In a joint letter from both groups to the city, they call the denial of approval “unconstitutional” and call on the city to overturn the decision.

The letter makes it clear that if this does not happen, “we may need to take legal action”.

“This type of change activity is protected at the highest level,” said Prachi Dave, policy and advocacy director at the Public Defender Association.

Anthony said the event will feature live music, food and lots of art. He added that there will be security and said that people who want to cause violence are not welcome.

The city did not respond to a request for comment on the letter from the ACLU and the Association of Public Defenders.

From Deedee Sun, KIRO 7 news