White Trash Bash draws 500 people in Illinois. Organizer is firing back at backlash

The organizer of the White Trash Bash event attended by hundreds of people last weekend in East Peoria, Illinois, has fired back at critics.

Around 500 people in 200 boats attended the annual event on Saturday and no one was seen wearing masks or social distancing, according to WMBD.

The Fon du Lac Park District Police Department patrolled the event, but said in a news release it is unable to enforce Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders related to coronavirus restrictions. Instead, the police department’s duties were to deter crime and water-related emergencies, director Michael Johnson said.

Prior to the event, the police department encouraged people to “use common sense and social distancing” for the White Trash Bash.

Brian Banwart, who organizes the White Trash Bash, doesn’t feel the boat party posed a threat.

“I think there’s a number of people, including myself, that thinks it may be a little more politically motivated, blown out of proportion,” Banwart told WEEK-TV.

He added to the station, “You can’t tell people outside in 90-degree weather to wear masks. You can’t tell them to stay six feet apart when they’re mingling with their friends.”

But social media users disagree with Banwart, telling the police department the party was dangerous.

“I have news for the Fon Du Lac Park Police. Without mask wearing and social distancing, NOBODY went home safely,” Norman Selner wrote. “They and the state police should have been writing summonses for breaking the state mandate.”

“No social distancing, no masks and our area is already becoming a hot spot with cases on the rise,” Jessi Shoup commented. “Thanks to these people we are going back to bars/restaurants/small businesses getting shut down again.”

Peoria County has 1,399 positive coronavirus cases and neighboring Tazewell County, where East Peoria is located, has 406 cases as of Aug. 4, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Banwart said the event’s Facebook page mentioned people should only come to the party at their own discretion.

“If you come out here and are worried, then go ahead and self quarantine,” he said, according to the Journal Star.

This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 10:43 AM.