LEE COUNTY, N.C. — The organizer of a drag show brunch in Sanford is not backing down after protesters, including members of the Proud Boys, showed up to the event on Sunday.
What You Need To Know
Lindsey Knapp organized a drag show brunch in Sanford on Sunday
People showed up to protest the event, including members of the Proud Boys
Knapp says she also received death threats because of the event
Sanford Police say no laws were broken at Sunday’s demonstration
The drag show brunch was organized by Lindsey Knapp, the owner of the Sanford Yoga and Community Center.
“We are a veteran-owned, trauma-informed yoga studio. So as we process trauma through the mind, which processes through the body,” Knapp said. “We use yoga in an effort to kind of help calm the nervous system, ease the mind.”
The studio also has an LGBTQ resource center that Knapp says her son inspired her to open.
“I myself have a trans child and so it kind of just started as an outlet for him to meet other people like him,” Knapp said.
Back in June, she hosted two drag show brunch events. Knapp says there was some backlash, but overall it was a hit.
“It was just really a great way to build community and to have folks in our community, especially the kids, just kind of see the spectrum of people that they could become,” Knapp said.
Knapp hosted another drag show event on Sunday, the day before Halloween, but things were very different this time around.
“The Proud Boys were there and they were very hostile. They were not happy that we were there,” Knapp said. “It was a little crazy. We started to get some death threats and things like that, and the outcry over it this time around was certainly significant.”
Knapp, who is also an attorney, filed some police reports and says she is even in touch with the FBI about the situation.
“The threat of violence against our community has now escalated, and a lot of our folks may feel like there's a target on their backs,” Knapp said.
She says it was an emotional situation, but they were still able to make the event feel celebratory.
“It terrifies me if I'm being honest, you know? But what's beautiful is like the lessons we can learn from our kids. Like my kid was at the drag brunch yesterday, and he was not scared at all,” Knapp said.
She says this situation will not stop her from providing a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
“They want us to run and be scared. We need to be out more than ever and show up and show out and host events even harder now to show them. That we will not back down. We are here to stay,” Knapp said.
The Sanford Police Department tells Spectrum News 1 that two people applied for permits to demonstrate outside of Sunday’s drag show. The department had police presence at Sunday’s event, and they say that is typical for demonstrations in order to ensure the safety of everyone.
The Sanford Police Department says, “No violations of law occurred at the demonstration.” However, one police report regarding an online threat made toward Sanford Yoga & Community Center is currently under investigation.
Sanford Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon shared a statement with Spectrum News 1 that reads in part, “We cannot dehumanize people we don't agree with, we cannot and should not imagine a country where we all think alike. And we should never wish for a government that acts as the morality police … Illegal acts will be handled by the legal system — but differences of opinions and ways of thinking are part of what it means to live in a free society.”