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Lino Lakes joins Hugo in banning targeted residential protests about:reader?url=https://www.startribune.com/lino-lakes joins-hugo-in-... <br />Kroll and Collin. <br />Thompson apologized for his behavior and Washington County_ <br />Attorney Pete Orput and Sheriff Dan Starry didn't file charges. <br />Despite widespread criticism, Thompson was elected last week to <br />the District 67A House seat. <br />There was another protest this summer at Hugo's Lions Park, <br />which is nestled in a residential area. But City Attorney Dave <br />Snyder said such a gathering wouldn't violate the ordinance <br />because public parks are reasonable sites for protests. <br />Targeted protests at private homes limit the ability for residents to <br />escape, cause emotional distress and obstruct public right-of- <br />ways, Bear said at the September meeting when the City Council <br />unanimously passed the ordinance. <br />Now Lino Lakes has decided to follow suit. Violators would face a <br />misdemeanor charge if they engage in targeted residential <br />picketing, which includes marching, standing on or patrolling a <br />single residential property without consent of the occupants. <br />John Swenson, Lino Lakes public safety director, said the <br />ordinance was developed with the feedback of residents who were <br />"fearful that could happen in their neighborhoods and limit their <br />ability to move about their neighborhood and feel safe in their own <br />homes." <br />Swenson said there is "firm legal ground" for the ordinance, citing <br />a case from the 1990s that involved 20 protesters outside the <br />White Bear Township home of Thomas Webber, executive director <br />of Planned Parenthood Minnesota. The state Court of Appeals <br />upheld a township ordinance that restricted targeted residential <br />picketing. <br />2 of 3 3/17/2021, 2:39 PM <br />