You may remember Alison Parker who was murdered, along with her cameraman, Adam Ward, as she conducted a live TV interview in Virginia in 2015. Since then Parker’s father, Andy Parker, has been a staunch gun control advocate.
This week, with Ted Nugent’s show getting ready to roll into Roanoke for a concert, Parker has organized a protest against the pro-gun rocker and the venue that’s hosting him.
A rolling billboard with Ted Nugent’s face on the side isn’t promoting his Roanoke concert later this month. It is protesting his appearance at the Berglund Center.
Andy Parker is the father of Alison Parker, our WDBJ7 colleague who was shot and killed in 2015.He organized the protest against the conservative rocker and NRA board member, and is calling for a boycott of the Berglund Center, because of Nugent’s statements on gun rights and gun control, and what Parker describes as his vile behavior.
“It’s an outrage to me and the people of Roanoke who think this community deserves better,” Parker said during a news conference Monday afternoon.
It’s not really clear why Parker thinks Nugent or the NRA are in any way responsible for his daughter’s death. That was the fault of a crazed former WDBJ7 reporter with a history of disturbing behavior who later shot himself.
Few anti-gun protests are complete these days without a die-in, so Parker’s supporters staged one in the venue’s lobby. For its part, the theater isn’t backing down.
Following is a written statement the Berglund Center released Monday:
“We are a public assembly facility and must obey the law, which includes non-discrimination against anyone or any artist based on their political views. We are in the business of hosting diverse events that appeal to citizens of Southwest Virginia. Ted Nugent wanted to perform in Roanoke, Virginia, and we could not turn away his business simply because not everyone shares his values. People come to concerts to hear the music of their favorite artists. Ted Nugent is performing a concert, not hosting a political rally.”