United Way discriminates against blogger at public park for refusing medical procedure

United Way of Southwest Colorado President and CEO Lynn Urban denied my access to the San Juan Brewfest at Buckley Park for failing to provide proof that I engaged in a medical procedure related to the COVID-19 virus.

United Way of Southwest Colorado President Lynn Urban denied me entry to the San Juan Brewfest event in Buckley Park for refusing to provide proof that I engaged in a medical procedure.

At 1328 hours on 8/29/2021 I was denied access and entry into Buckley Park, a city of Durango-leased public park that’s owned by Durango School District 9-R.

I video recorded the discrimination.

Lynn Urban, the President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Colorado, denied me entry to the event at the park because I was unwilling to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Lynn Urban denied me entry to the event after I asked for a religious exemption to their rules requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Urban refused to honor my religious exemption even though I was willing to pay for a ticket.

Other people attending the event were treated more favorably than I was and were allowed to enter the event because they were willing to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Lynn Urban told me that tickets were still available at the time when I sought access to the park event.

Her denying me entry is a violation of my religious freedom (a 1st Amendment violation), and is a violation of the 4th Amendment that allows me to be secure in my person, papers and effects, free of unreasonable searches and seizures.

In addition, her denial of my entry based on my unwillingness to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test may be a violation of Colorado Revised Statute 24-34-601, which is supposed to prevent discrimination in places of public accommodation.

Public Accommodation Law, Colorado Revised Statute 24-34-601

C.R.S. 24-34-601 Discrimination in places of public accommodation – definition (Effective until September 7, 2021)

(1) As used in this part 6, “place of public accommodation” means any place of business engaged in any sales to the public and any place offering services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to the public, including but not limited to any business offering wholesale or retail sales to the public; any place to eat, drink, sleep, or rest, or any combination thereof; any sporting or recreational area and facility; any public transportation facility; a barber shop, bathhouse, swimming pool, bath, steam or massage parlor, gymnasium, or other establishment conducted to serve the health, appearance, or physical condition of a person; a campsite or trailer camp; a dispensary, clinic, hospital, convalescent home, or other institution for the sick, ailing, aged, or infirm; a mortuary, undertaking parlor, or cemetery; an educational institution; or any public building, park, arena, theater, hall, auditorium, museum, library, exhibit, or public facility of any kind whether indoor or outdoor. “Place of public accommodation” shall not include a church, synagogue, mosque, or other place that is principally used for religious purposes.

(2)

(a) It is a discriminatory practice and unlawful for a person, directly or indirectly, to refuse, withhold from, or deny to an individual or a group, because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ancestry, the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a place of public accommodation or, directly or indirectly, to publish, circulate, issue, display, post, or mail any written, electronic, or printed communication, notice, or advertisement that indicates that the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a place of public accommodation will be refused, withheld from, or denied an individual or that an individual’s patronage or presence at a place of public accommodation is unwelcome, objectionable, unacceptable, or undesirable because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ancestry.

(b) A claim brought pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) that is based on disability is covered by the provisions of section 24-34-802.

(2.5) It is a discriminatory practice and unlawful for any person to discriminate against any individual or group because such person or group has opposed any practice made a discriminatory practice by this part 6 or because such person or group has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing conducted pursuant to this part 6.

The San Juan Brewfest was a ticketed event at Buckley Park that appeared to be open to the general public. However, kids and those who did not submit to the COVID-19 medical procedures were not allowed entry.

Durango Adult Education Center Executive Director Susan Hakanson and Officer B Heller of Durango Police Department were witnesses to this discrimination.

Both United Way of Southwest Colorado and Durango Adult Education Center are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the State of Colorado.

United Way is registered as United Way of Southwest Colorado and can be found at WWW.UNITEDWAY-SWCO.ORG.

Durango Adult Education Center is registered as Durango Education Center, Inc with the state of Colorado and can be found at WWW.DURANGOADULTED.ORG.

In an attempt to hold Lynn Urban and the United Way accountable for the discrimination, I filed complaints against her/them through the Department of Justice and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Adam Howell is a writer who believes in free press and the importance of the constitution. He can be reached by clicking on this link to the contact page.