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The Asbury Park Mayor and City Council have issued an official statement following the controversy that surrounds the upcoming Festival of Life event planned for June 24 to 29 in Bradley Park, located at Ocean and Fifth avenues.

The controversy was sparked by a former Asbury Park resident’s social media post asking for the LGBTQ support community peacefully protest the event.

Allison Kolarik, 34, of Long Branch said after doing a cursory search to learn more about Revival Today, the organization bringing the 6-day evangelical event to the small progressive Jersey Shore community, she unearthed ‘homophobic, transphobic, anti-islamic, and anti-woman vitriol’ from the organization’s leader – Pastor Jonathan Shuttlesworth.

Within 24 hours of her Monday afternoon post, over 1,000 people responded with interest to her call for a peaceful counter protest, beginning at 5:45 pm on June 24.

By Wednesday night local church and community leaders were organizing a united protest campaign, Asbury Audio owner Jason Dermer said via social media. They group includes members of Second Baptist Church, local community activist Rev. Nicolle Harris, Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino, and community leader Joe Grillo.

“We are one of the most tolerant communities, not just in New Jersey but in the county,” Grillo said. “The one thing we are not tolerant of is bigotry, especially bigotry under the false pretense of giving away stuff.”

On Thursday afternoon the Asbury Park Mayor and City Council issued the following statement:

The City of Asbury Park is home to one of the most diverse communities in the State of New Jersey.

While the City values the constitutional right to freedom of speech, and encourages peaceful public discourse and debate on all issues of public concern, the Mayor and City Council—in honor of the City’s diverse population and spirit—nevertheless denounce the past rhetoric of Revival Today’s Jonathan Shuttlesworth, who will be speaking at the Festival of Life event next week in Asbury Park.

Mr. Shuttlesworth has openly spoken about the LGBTQ community in a hateful, harmful and disparaging manner. The LGBTQ community in Asbury Park is active and valued, and has been committed to the City for decades. Their commitment has been instrumental in the revival that the City is currently experiencing.

“Asbury Park has worked hard to have open, healing dialogues among the very diverse population here,” Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn said. “Speakers like this do not facilitate positive relationships between neighbors.”

“We respect the Festival’s rights to free speech and assembly but, at the same time, implore them not to take advantage of people and, most definitely, not to spread intolerance,” Mayor John Moor said.

Organized under Revival Today Inc. based in Pittsburgh, Pa, The Festival of Life has often visited urban areas with the promise of healing, food and gift cards. The organization accepts donations and reported revenue of $2.8 million in 2016 (source: ProPublic). After their visit to Asbury Park, the Festival is headed to Newark, NJ and New Orleans, LA.

The City respectfully asks anyone who attends the Festival, or anyone who protests the Festival, not to engage in violence of any kind.

For more about the event controversy, click here.

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