Minnesota Leaders, Hundreds of Volunteers to Join Efforts to Defeat Freedom-Limiting Marriage Amendment
Senator Franken, Congressman Ellison, Mayors Rybak and Coleman, Senator Dibble and others to volunteer with Minnesotans United at Twin Cities Pride Festival
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Kate Brickman, Press Secretary
Phone Number: 612-460-1219
June 22, 2012 – Minneapolis, MN – A range of Minnesota leaders will lend their efforts to Minnesotans United for All Families this weekend at the Twin Cities Pride Festival. Senator Al Franken, Congressman Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, State Senator Scott Dibble, and State Representatives Karen Clark and Susan Allen are just a few of the elected officials expected to join the hundreds of volunteers working this weekend with the official campaign to defeat the amendment limiting the freedom to marry in Minnesota. The local leaders will spend parts of Saturday and Sunday talking with voters from the four stages within Loring Park and at the Minnesotans United for All Families booth about the importance of voting no.
Minnesotans United for All Families is an official sponsor of this year’s festival. As Minnesotans gear up for the fall elections, the campaign to defeat the marriage amendment will launch a massive effort to talk to thousands upon thousands of people throughout the celebration, encouraging them to Vote No on November 6 and to talk with their friends and neighbors about why defeating this amendment matters to them.
The festival will bring more than 350,000 people from across the state to Minneapolis’ Loring Park. The campaign kicked off Pride week Tuesday by hosting the first-ever Governor’s Reception, the same day it released its financial report showing $4.6 million raised since the start of the campaign, with 90 percent of donors from Minnesota. The campaign will continue staging a massive presence at the festival and in Sunday’s parade, taking the opportunity to galvanize thousands upon thousands of people into action.
Below is the schedule of events and leaders expected to take part in this weekend’s Twin Cities Pride Festival:
MINNESOTANS UNITED FOR ALL FAMILIES BOOTH
Saturday, June 23 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 24 | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Loring Park, booth G004, Green Section between pond and basketball court (see attached map)
Saturday, June 23
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Rep. Keith Ellison
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Minneapolis City Council Member Gary Schiff
Sunday, June 24
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Senator Al Franken
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
Minnesotans United for All Families will have a booth, serving as a focal point for the hundreds of volunteers canvassing the festival talking with people about volunteering, collecting donations and encouraging people to vote no on the proposed amendment. Attendees will be recruited to attend volunteer and conversation trainings taking place throughout the weekend at the Minneapolis office for MN United, located adjacent to Loring Park.
MINNESOTANS UNITED AT PRIDE STAGES
Saturday, June 23
12:55 p.m. City Council Member Robert Lilligren, Power to the People Stage
4:15 p.m. State Senator Scott Dibble (Minneapolis), Rainbow Stage
Sunday, June 24
1:55 p.m. State Representatives Karen Clark & Susan Allen, Power to the People Stage
2:05 p.m. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Loring Stage
TWIN CITIES PRIDE PARADE
Sunday, June 24 | 11:00 a.m.
Parade route starts at 3rd and Hennepin, ends at Spruce and Hennepin
The 2012 Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade is set to draw more than 125,000 spectators. Mayor R.T. Rybak calls it the largest parade in all of Minneapolis. Minnesotans United for All Families will have a float that will include volunteers and community leaders walking in the parade canvassing the crowd of spectators, talking with people about voting no and soliciting donations and volunteers.
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