Rockton police chief: Library decided drag queen event would not be safe, not him

Rockton Police Chief Matt Hollinger raised concerns about the Talcott Free Library hosting a drag queen artist, but at no time did he tell library Director Megan Gove that it wouldn't be safe.

"Absolutely not did we give her directions of what she could not do," Hollinger said.

Hollinger and the Rockton Police Department has been scrutinized in recent days after Gove informed the community that an upcoming Q and A session with drag queen artist Krystal Ball would be a virtual event instead of in-person for safety reasons.

"Safety of everyone is our first priority," Gove posted on the library's Facebook page. "After talking with the police/fire departments this week in multiple discussions of the huge number of people on both sides planning to attend, we have determined an in-person event will not be safe for our patrons or presenter at this time."

"That was a conclusion she came to on her own," Hollinger said of library's decision.

More: Rockton library drag queen event to be held virtually. Here's why

The police and fire chiefs as well as Village President John Peterson met with Gove after nearly 300 people attended a June 26 library board meeting, during which the library board voted 4-2 in favor of hosting the event. Attendees were a mix of supporters of the events and those who opposed it.

In that meeting, Hollinger said he informed Gove what steps his 15-officer department would take to keep everyone safe that day such as blocking off streets around the library, which would affect neighboring businesses.

Peterson also said it was Gove's decision to make the event virtual and that he supports her decision.

"My number one concern is the kids who are wanting to go there and thinking of them having to walk through a loud group of screaming adults. That wouldn't be good for them," he said. "And number two, of course, the downtown and downtown businesses."

Attempts to reach Gove for comment have been unsuccessful. Calls to the library have not been returned.

Kelly Kulak, a Rockton resident and co-founder of Rockton Pride, said moving an event like from in-person to online to try to reduce the number of protesters that will show up stifles freedom of speech and expression.

"The library tried to create this inclusive event to give some visibility to an incredibly underrepresented group of people who live in this area," she said. "And ultimately, they were forced back behind doors, which defeats the entire purpose of the event."

Kulak also took exception with Rockford Family Initiative's involvement in the matter. The group routinely protests outside Rockford abortion clinics and has rallied against a drag queen story hour at the Rockford Public Library in recent years stating a publicly-funded library is not the right venue for such events.

"They are the ones pushing the fight against the library despite not even being a part of the (library) district," she said. "Their tax dollars have nothing to do with this, and they're driving the hate against this event based on their own religious ideologies. And that 100% goes against the First Amendment."

Meanwhile, Rockton Pride has started a GoFundMe account to cover the library's expenses of hosting the event. It is not known how much Ball is being paid by the library but as of Friday nearly $900 had been raised.

Kevin Rilott, Rockford Family Initiative president, sent a letter addressed to the Rockton library, library board and to the village of Rockton. In the letter is a link to a YouTube video that features excerpts of a performance by Brandon Osterberg whose stage name is Krystal Ball. The video depicts Ball in women's underclothing pulling a out what appears to be a fake knife.

The letter in part states:

"The library released a statement (on its Facebook page) saying drag is not sexual. It is art.

"The facts you can see for yourself in the video. Brandon makes it sexual. He makes it violent, and it is clearly not art. Unless you believe little boys should be taught to pull a knife out of their bra and stick the knife in peoples faces."

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Online drag event raises ire with supporters, some of it misdirected