UpRising Bakery—a Lake in the Hills business extensively vandalized after scheduling a brunch event featuring drag performers—will be able to host the rescheduled event and other programs after reaching an agreement with Lake in the Hills Village officials, according to a press release from the ACLU of Illinois.
The release stated, "UpRising owner Corrina Bendel Sac had been threatened with fines and the loss of her business license if she went forward with these events after a meeting with Village officials last week. The agreement reached today ends these threats and denies a potential victory to violent extremists that objected to UpRising's support for the LGBTQ+ community."
"We are elated to have come to a mutual agreement with the Village of Lake in the Hills," said Sac. "UpRising Bakery and Cafe opened less than a year ago with the goal of providing a safe and welcoming 'home away from home' for all beings, we thank the community, ACLU, KRV legal, municipalities, and our families for helping us reach this goal. We look forward to getting back to baking and holding community centered events!"
"Today's agreement is good news for the Lake in the Hills community and a victory for free speech," said ACLU of Illinois Senior Special Litigation Counsel Kevin Fee. "We applaud Village officials for their willingness to quickly engage in thoughtful discussions leading to this understanding that allows UpRising to continue to serve their mission of being a community resource for all people."
UpRising and Sac had planned to host a "Starry Night Brunch Drag" show at the store. The event, which was sold out, was advertised as a family-friendly evening with food and drink from the bakery. After a series of protests and a campaign of in-person and online harassment, the shop was vandalized on the evening before the event forcing cancellation of the show.
Joseph I. Collins, 24, of Alsip, was taken into custody after allegedly vandalizing the cafe.
