In July a physical altercation took place between at Shriners and animal rights activists at the Shriners national convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Police were called, but no arrested were made and charges were not pressed against members of either group.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, about 15 animal rights activists dressed in clown outfits were protesting across the street from a convention center where the Shriner convention was being held. The Tribune reported that,
The initial altercation was between a Shriner, Rob Bernhardt of Denver, and Lori Peterson, a Minneapolis attorney and activist, who wore a bright orange fright wig and a polka-dot bow tie. Bernhardt, arguing with another protester, turned around and saw Peterson standing on the sidewalk.
“I told her to get out of the way, and she said, ‘You’re gonna have to get me out of the way,’ said Bernhardt, who might outweigh Peterson by 100 pounds. “I pushed her out of the way, then the guy on the other side pushes me, and then she goes in on me low, and we’re in the bushes.”
Peterson said, “He threw me into the bushes. I don’t remember throwing punches, but I kicked him between the legs.”
Others then joined in the fracas which apparently lasted a couple minutes.
In an e-mail posted to an animal rights mailing list, Lori Peterson said of the incident,
The truly amazing thing is that several of them PHYSICALLY ATTACKED US! ! ! ! ! THEY WERE HUGE! ! ! They physically threw a female activist (me!) over a cement wall and into some bushes and jumped on top of her, they punched out a 62 year-old man who was trying to break up the melee [sic], they punched a college student repeatedly in the face and knocked his head against a metal pipe, they punched a security guard, and more. Several activists were bleeding and bruised.
We called the police (and the press!) and had to follow the Shriners/perpetrators down the street, as they were trying to escape dealing with law enforcement. Let me reiterate: the two main Shriner instigators were HUGE. They must have weighted 300 lbs each and looked ready to go into labor at any moment. Turns out, they are father and son. (I’m proud to say I nailed the biggest one in the nuts, as difficult as it was to find them).
The police and press showed up and conducted interviews. They also watched (without being detected) what the Shriners who walked past said. They got some choice tidbits firsthand. We are considering suing not only the individuals engaged in the violence, but also the Shrine organization. Maybe their money should be used to finance animal rights for a change, instead of to fund their clubhouses, motorcycles, stupid hats and liquor.
Peterson and the other activists were protesting against the Shriners’ circus which features performing animals.
Sources:
Animal-rights activists, Shriners spar at convention. Nolan Zavoral, Star Tribune (Minneapolis), July 7, 2003.
Shriners physically attack activists. Lori Peterson, E-mail communication, July 7, 2003.