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Gay rights activist arrested at Kentucky State Fair breakfast

Gay rights activist arrested at Kentucky State Fair breakfast
Those arrested were Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman (pictured), Carla Wallace and Sonja Devries.
Those arrested were Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman (pictured), Carla Wallace and Sonja Devries.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A leading gay-rights activist and two others were arrested for protesting at the Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Country Ham Breakfast and Auction, an event at the state fair that draws many of the state’s top political leaders.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Paul Blanton said the three were arrested Thursday for refusing to sit down once the event started. He said those arrested on misdemeanor charges were Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman, Carla Wallace and Sonja Devries.

Blanton says Hartman was charged with disorderly conduct and failure to disperse. The others were charged with failure to disperse.

The Fairness Campaign said it was protesting the Farm Bureau’s stance on gay rights and other issues.

A highlight of the event is the auction for the state fair’s grand champion ham. This year’s winning bid was $400,000.

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