St. Paul officials ready, but expect no trouble from fair protest

Updated: 6:12 p.m. | Posted: 3:22 p.m.

St. Paul officials downplayed any possibility that a planned Black Lives Matter protest would cause significant problems for people attending the Minnesota State Fair on Saturday.

Mayor Chris Coleman, Police Chief Tom Smith and Fire Chief Tim Butler said Friday that they have a public safety plan in place, but they didn't disclose specific tactics. Their message to fairgoers: Arrive early, stay late.

"We don't want to make this what it really isn't," Smith said of the protest. "This is going to be a good day tomorrow. There is no indication of any problems that will happen."

A scheduled meeting between Black Lives Matter leaders and St. Paul officials Friday morning was canceled at the last minute. Black Lives Matter St. Paul organizer Rashad Turner said the group canceled because members didn't feel "it was necessary to meet with the mayor."

"We felt it was more important to be on the same page with Chief Smith and the SPPD," he added. "They won't arrest us and they will protect us. The safety of the protesters is our main concern."

St. Paul Police Spokesman Steve Linders said no agreement has been made with protesters and that people will be arrested if "they're being dangerous."

Smith said extra police officers will patrol the area to keep protesters, fairgoers and the public safe.

Mayor Coleman said he still hopes to schedule a meeting in the future to share the city's racial equity plans.

Black Lives Matter St. Paul plans to meet at 11 a.m. at Hamline Park and march north on Snelling Avenue to the fairgrounds. The group alleges racial discrimination against fair vendors and overall disparities in the city of St. Paul.

Members of the group have opposed opening a booth at the fair and said the protest is a more effective way to spread their message. However, 25-year-old St. Paul resident Todd Gramenz decided to set one up on his own as a less disruptive way to educate people about the Black Lives Matter movement.

The group's planned protest falls on what is traditionally one of the busiest days of the 12-day event. Coleman urged people to explore the different entrance points to the fair.

"We've had a lot of instances where things have impeded people getting in and out of the State Fair, and we see this ... in a similar manner," he said, referring to the Interstate Hwy. 35W bridge collapse and construction projects, for example.

Butler, the fire chief, said a typical fair day draws about 20 emergency medical calls to the fairgrounds. Paramedics also transport about 10 patients to area hospitals on average. Additional paramedics are usually on standby during busy weekend days and on Senior Day, Butler said.

Earlier this week, Governor Mark Dayton said Black Lives Matter's concerns about racial disparities are legitimate but called the protest inappropriate. Dayton said the group should've approached State Fair officials with their concerns about lack of opportunity for black-owned businesses at the fair months ago.

Black Lives Matter Minneapolis on Friday responded to Dayton's criticism of the planned protest. Organizer Lena Gardner says the Governor has been silent about the movement despite large scale events held over the past few months.

"It's inappropriate that he wouldn't speak out about the inequalities that these protests are shedding light on, which are some of the worst in the nation when it comes to racial disparities in Minnesota," she said. "So we would like to have the governor seriously address those rather than condemning the people who are saying that this is wrong."

Dayton's office declined to comment Friday.

MPR News' Peter Cox contributed to this report.