Written by Dan McGrath.
ProtectMyVote.com will request an investigation into
whether officers’ actions were politically motivated
Chisago, Minnesota – Lakes Area Police officers today
barred the ProtectMyVote.com parade unit from the Ki-Chi-Saga Grand Day parade
in Chisago, Minnesota.
ProtectMyVote.com was paid, registered and assigned unit
number 71 for the parade that started at 2:00 this afternoon. It was the very
last unit in the lineup, but after the unit immediately before it passed
through the intersection onto the parade route, police barricaded the road and
refused to allow ProtectMyVote.com to follow.
4 non-parade vehicles travelling the road had cut into
the parade line in front of ProtectMyVote.com. Officers directed thiem onto a
side road, and then, to ballot committee chairman Dan McGrath’s astonishment,
officers ordered ProtectMyVote.com off the road as well.
McGrath was driving the ProtectMyVote.com van. “We’re
paid and registered for this parade,” he told one of the three officers blocking
the road.
“You should have been on time. Turn off the road,” he
responded. At that point, the parade unit ProtectMyVote.com was following was
about 6 car-lengths further ahead.
“We were on time. These 4 cars ahead of me cut into the
parade lineup. I drove for 2 hours to participate in this parade. Are you
seriously not going to let us through?”
“I’m serious. Now get off the road,” the officer ordered.
Another officer chimed in, “We’re serious. Move it.”
McGrath complied and turned off onto the side street,
parked and attempted to reach parade organizers on the phone without success.
Next, he walked to the intersection and asked the officers for contact
information for their supervisors. “That was pretty poor,” he told an officer
who identified himself as Mike Merchlewitz.”
“Yeah,” he replied dismissively.
McGrath had spoke to the officer 20 minutes prior to this
encounter about the lineup order. The officer was aware that ProtectMyVote.com
was on-time and authorized to be in the parade, but barred the group from
participating in the parade regardless.
McGrath said he’s lodged a complaint with the Lakes Area
Police Department and requested a refund for the entry fee from parade
organizers. He said he’ll also request an investigation into whether the
officers’ actions were politically motivated.
Cross-posted and comments welcome at ProtectMyVote.com
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