Federal judge rules in favor of Bloomington in farmers' market lawsuit alleging discrimination

Bloomington city officials did not violate the free speech rights of or discriminate against a farmers’ market vendor suspected of white supremacist beliefs during a summer of protests over the issue in 2019.

That was the word this week from a federal court judge who ruled against Schooner Creek Farm owners Sarah Dye and Douglas Mackey. The two filed a lawsuit nearly two years ago following a volatile summer of events at the city-sponsored downtown market in 2019.

From February 2020:Schooner Creek Farms sues city, mayor, 2 parks employees

The ruckus resulted in a two-week suspension of the longtime market at the height of the season to ease escalating tensions between protesters and the Schooner Creek Farms owners.

Their lawsuit accused Mayor John Hamilton, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department administrator Paula McDevitt and former farmers’ market program coordinator Marcia Veldman of prejudicial treatment, alleging they encouraged protesters while violating Dye and Mackey’s right to free speech.

In a 30-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young struck down their claims that the city officials violated Dye and Mackey's rights by not intervening to stop disruptive protests.