Dear Editor:
Since 2013, our organization, Stop the Violence Pittsburgh (STVP), has hosted the Juneteenth Festival in Pittsburgh. As you may know, Juneteenth is the celebration of the end of slavery and Black Americans’ emancipation since 1865. Our Festival includes Motivational Speakers, Live bands, a Jubilee Parade, Gospel Groups, a Kids Fun Zone, Vendors, African dance troupes and National entertainment. We have received Proclamations and Letters of Support from various City, County and State officials.
Juneteenth has been held in Market Square without incident, and we are now servicing some 3,000 participants. Because of this growth, for the 2018 Festival we sought to move the event to Point State Park (PSP) and started the process of filing an application with PSP officials. I later received a email from Lynne Rupp of PSP who informed me that among other things, “We also require a $10,000 refundable security deposit and a certificate of insurance for a $300,000 policy.” I answered Ms. Rupp, asked about the purpose of the refundable fee, told her that we have insurance coverage for our Festival and complained that the fee appeared to be a “deterrent” from hosting events at PSP.
On July 19, Mr. Jacob Weiland, PSP manager, told me via phone that the $10,000 fee was to cover potential “property damage.” I explained to Mr. Weiland that we provide up to $3,000,000 event insurance which also includes “renter’s premise insurance coverage.” Mr. Weiland would not lift the PSP Fee.
In America, it has been a practice to create “deterrents or restrictions” to stop African Americans from enjoying the same rights, privileges and advantages as Caucasians. There was a time when Black people were refused public accommodation or access to public space like their White counter-parts.
Currently the major festivals hosted by PSP are the Three Rivers Arts Festival, Three Rivers Regatta and 4th of July Celebration. While Blacks make up 30 percent of Pittsburgh’s population, there are no minority events held at PSP.
In a state with a Democratic Governor, County Executive and Mayor, we would request that your readers contact Governor Wolf’s Office, 717-787-2500, Mayor Peduto’s Office, 412- 255-2626, County Executive Fitzgerald, 412-350-6500 and PSP manager Jacob Weiland, 412-565-2850 and request an explanation why African Americans are not allowed to host events at PSP.
William Marshall
CEO of Stop The
Violence Pittsburgh
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
About Post Author
