Received bomb threat threatened to steal joy and feeling of safety from the 2024 Pride Celebration. Not so, Pride Committee says.
Jun 24, 2024 08:54AM ● By Content Editor
All photos by Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 22, 2024
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 22, 2024
Cook County Pride events have seen their share of potential roadblocks during times when the Committee aims to create space for acceptance, feeling welcomed, and safe. In 2022, protesters were seen and heard outside the Log Cabin at the Cook County Community Center during the first-ever Drag Story Hour in Cook County. In 2023, local businesses reported stolen or damaged Pride flags in the days leading up to the annual June Pride Celebration. This year, a bomb threat was received around 10:30 am on June 15, directed at attendees and organizers of the events being held that day. The threat mentioned a bomb placed in three specific buildings in downtown Grand Marais.
According to a release from the Cook County Sheriff's Office, the department "responded immediately upon receiving the call and conducted a precautionary sweep which yielded negative results." Additionally, the Crow Wing County Bomb Squad was notified and determined that the Sheriff's Office did everything that the Bomb Squad would have done.
The Cook County Pride Committee said in a press release that they were made aware of the bomb threat on the morning of Saturday, June 15, during the Celebration. In addition to active communication and collaboration with local law enforcement leading up to the event, "Part of our extensive planning involved designated security leaders from our local community and professional collaborators brought in for support", the release said. (The Pride Committee also hired Minneapolis-based Sequeerity, "a de-escalation team that is owned and operated by queer, and poc womxn whose goal is to create and maintain safe spaces for everyone, especially for the LGBTQIA+ community.")
Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen led an investigation into the threats, and it was determined that the emails were received from an account in Moscow, Russia. According to a second release issued by the Sherrif's Department, "We have closed the investigation due to the geographical barrier, and the fact that nothing suspicious was located during our search. Although the case will remain in a “closed” status, any new information will be taken in and investigated for authenticity."
Boreal Community Media reached out to Sheriff Eliasen and learned that the FBI was also contacted as part of the investigation, due to the international location of the email account. FBI SA Craig Heidenreich shared that "the same email address that sent the threats recently generated multiple similar threats across the United States. It is believed to be Russian and may be bot-generated."
These types of threats, also known as "swatting", have become more common throughout the country. In May 2024, the FBI and Homeland Security issued a notice warning of possible threats to LGBTQA events from "foreign terrorist organizations (FTOS) or their supporters". According to the release, "FTO efforts to commit or inspire violence against holiday celebrations, including Pride celebrations or LGBTQIA+-related venues, are compounded by the current heightened threat environment in the United States and other Western countries. FTOs and their supporters have previously promoted anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and targeted LGBTQIA+-related events or venues for attacks".
Earlier this month, a drag brunch in Austin, Texas, was cancelled after receiving a bomb threat. According to a Facebook post from the event host, after working with the Austin Police Department and the FBI, it was determined that they "were most likely a victim of a hoax that has affected institutions in several major cities throughout the U.S. recently, especially during Pride month."
Recently, MPR reported on various rural places around Minnesota that have hosted Pride events and received pushback. The article highlights the importance (and ultimately success) of Pride events for rural LBGTQA+ residents to "feel like they belong and that there are other options besides living in the Twin Cities."
Cook County seems to be no exception to this. As much as threats like these attempt to disrupt and take the focus away from the event, the Cook County Pride Committee said that in the case of June 15, the day was a "huge success".
"Considering our theme for this year’s event, “We Belong Here”, this was a powerful way to claim the truth of these words and celebrate with a feeling of both safety and joy. Due to our efforts, relationships across the community, and diligence as a collective, we continue to celebrate our belonging in this small but relevant rural community."
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 22, 2024
Cook County Pride events have seen their share of potential roadblocks during times when the Committee aims to create space for acceptance, feeling welcomed, and safe. In 2022, protesters were seen and heard outside the Log Cabin at the Cook County Community Center during the first-ever Drag Story Hour in Cook County. In 2023, local businesses reported stolen or damaged Pride flags in the days leading up to the annual June Pride Celebration. This year, a bomb threat was received around 10:30 am on June 15, directed at attendees and organizers of the events being held that day. The threat mentioned a bomb placed in three specific buildings in downtown Grand Marais.
According to a release from the Cook County Sheriff's Office, the department "responded immediately upon receiving the call and conducted a precautionary sweep which yielded negative results." Additionally, the Crow Wing County Bomb Squad was notified and determined that the Sheriff's Office did everything that the Bomb Squad would have done.
The Cook County Pride Committee said in a press release that they were made aware of the bomb threat on the morning of Saturday, June 15, during the Celebration. In addition to active communication and collaboration with local law enforcement leading up to the event, "Part of our extensive planning involved designated security leaders from our local community and professional collaborators brought in for support", the release said. (The Pride Committee also hired Minneapolis-based Sequeerity, "a de-escalation team that is owned and operated by queer, and poc womxn whose goal is to create and maintain safe spaces for everyone, especially for the LGBTQIA+ community.")
Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen led an investigation into the threats, and it was determined that the emails were received from an account in Moscow, Russia. According to a second release issued by the Sherrif's Department, "We have closed the investigation due to the geographical barrier, and the fact that nothing suspicious was located during our search. Although the case will remain in a “closed” status, any new information will be taken in and investigated for authenticity."
Boreal Community Media reached out to Sheriff Eliasen and learned that the FBI was also contacted as part of the investigation, due to the international location of the email account. FBI SA Craig Heidenreich shared that "the same email address that sent the threats recently generated multiple similar threats across the United States. It is believed to be Russian and may be bot-generated."
These types of threats, also known as "swatting", have become more common throughout the country. In May 2024, the FBI and Homeland Security issued a notice warning of possible threats to LGBTQA events from "foreign terrorist organizations (FTOS) or their supporters". According to the release, "FTO efforts to commit or inspire violence against holiday celebrations, including Pride celebrations or LGBTQIA+-related venues, are compounded by the current heightened threat environment in the United States and other Western countries. FTOs and their supporters have previously promoted anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and targeted LGBTQIA+-related events or venues for attacks".
Earlier this month, a drag brunch in Austin, Texas, was cancelled after receiving a bomb threat. According to a Facebook post from the event host, after working with the Austin Police Department and the FBI, it was determined that they "were most likely a victim of a hoax that has affected institutions in several major cities throughout the U.S. recently, especially during Pride month."
Recently, MPR reported on various rural places around Minnesota that have hosted Pride events and received pushback. The article highlights the importance (and ultimately success) of Pride events for rural LBGTQA+ residents to "feel like they belong and that there are other options besides living in the Twin Cities."
Cook County seems to be no exception to this. As much as threats like these attempt to disrupt and take the focus away from the event, the Cook County Pride Committee said that in the case of June 15, the day was a "huge success".
"Considering our theme for this year’s event, “We Belong Here”, this was a powerful way to claim the truth of these words and celebrate with a feeling of both safety and joy. Due to our efforts, relationships across the community, and diligence as a collective, we continue to celebrate our belonging in this small but relevant rural community."
Communtiy members gather in bright colors before the rally and march.
Angel Kelly led an Oula class before the rally and march.
Community members gather to create art and visit vendors.
Community members gather for the Cook County Pride rally on June 15, 2024.
Community members gather for the Cook County Pride rally on June 15, 2024.
A lipstick car was on display before the rally and march.
Around 200 community members participated in the march around Grand Marias, MN.
Around 200 community members participated in the march around Grand Marias, MN.
Around 200 community members participated in the march around Grand Marias, MN.
Around 200 community members participated in the march around Grand Marias, MN.
DD's Catering provided a warm meal to the community after the rally and march.
Even furry friends joined in on the festivities.
