Former Democratic Assembly candidate Kirk Bangstad, owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company, has ignited controversy after calling for what he says would be a “peaceful shutdown” of the town’s July 4 parade.

In a June 29 Facebook post, Bangstad wrote:

“If we can get 100 people to commit to show up to our taproom this Friday to block the 4th of July Parade from happening in Minocqua because the town board refused to pay for fireworks this year, then we’ll do it.”

He continued:

“Minocqua and America don’t deserve a celebration after our local government illegally arrested and jailed peaceful teachers and doctors who tried to stop Moms for Liberty from banning books in our schools.”

Bangstad elaborated on the plan in a July 1 Instagram post, stating the protest was intended to “peacefully disturb, delay, or shut down the Town of Minocqua’s upcoming July 4 parade.”

Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV reported on July 2 that Bangstad was rallying supporters to gather at 4 p.m. Friday — the scheduled parade time — at his brewery as a protest to a recent altercation at his facility that resulted in his arrest.The incident was livestreamed by Bangstad, who referred to it as a “political protest.” He pleaded not guilty and the case is still pending.

Bangstad has been long at odds with town and Vilas County officials.

The current protest call follows many confrontations with local authorities. The latest altercation resulted in Bangstad’s June 30 arrest on charges of harassment, disorderly conduct, and bail jumping after a confrontation with Lakeland Times publisher Gregg Walker. He has engaged in a fued with the publisher for years. Tensions escalated when Bangstad criticized Walker and the paper in social media posts, calling Walker a “crook” and “misogynist” and alleging false claims about Walker’s family history, including a fabricated story about a hunting accident.

In 2023, a jury awarded Walker $750,000 in a defamation lawsuit against Bangstad—the largest defamation penalty in Wisconsin history—though Bangstad settled for $580,000, with most allegedly covered by insurance.

Wisconsin Public Radio noted the arrest adds to a string of ongoing legal battles for Bangstad, including a 2023 defamation lawsuit in which a jury awarded $750,000 in damages to Walker, and an earlier campaign finance complaint alleging misuse of super PAC funds.

Town officials confirmed the parade will go on as scheduled at 4 p.m. Friday.