CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Community opposition to the annual music event “Riot Fest” in Douglas Park on Chicago’s West Side has not succeeded in cancelling the event, but the management has removed the event’s organizer.
There was a community meeting between the organizer, Scott Fisher, and neighbors that didn’t go well.
The Chicago Reader first reported on and recorded the meeting. Neighbors said it was poorly advertised. It was held in the middle of a weekday when most people couldn't attend and and there was nowhere for the elderly to sit.
There was no interpreter for Spanish speakers either.
Some called the meeting hostile. Now Riot Fest management has removed Fisher, a private contractor.
"If you wanna be nice about it, I'll stay," he said to attendees during the meeting. "If you guys all wanna be nasty and start yelling at me like you are, then I'll go."
A spokesperson from Riot Fest said in a statement that Fisher is an independent contractor and the meeting was scheduled without the authorization of management.
"We don’t condone the tone and apologize to the Douglass Park community as it is not reflective of RF’s values or any of our past work in the park," read the statement.
"We understand the concerns from residents and want to do everything to mitigate those concerns and remain a positive asset to the community."
Some residents don’t want any big events in the park.
Besides Riot Fest, there are two other large music festivals held there in the summertime. Riot Fest was moved from Humboldt Park several years ago following complaints from residents there.
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