SF Pride: Lawyer Threatens YouTube Videographer Over Shooting Clip

By Erin Sherbert Thu., Jun. 30 2011 at 4:45 PM

Categories: LGBT, Local News

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They already have no money. They don't need bad press, too

We knew SF Pride was in deep financial trouble. So if the organization sees fit to shake someone down for $10,000, every little bit helps.

Media connections between Pride and Saturday's Market Street shooting spree have prompted the nonprofit to lawyer up. Specifically, Pride attorney Brooke Oliver fired off a threatening letter to a YouTube videographer who posted a clip of the scene right after the June 25 shooting with the caption: "Shooting, Civic Center, Pride Festival, June 25, 2011, 6:15 PM."

Lawyers demanded not only the removal of that "sensationalist" title, but a public apology -- and $10,000 in folding money as a monetary supplement to said apology.

If you Google the words "San Francisco shooting" and "Gay Pride," you will find a plethora of connections between the barrage of gunfire and the nearby gay festivities. Organizers say the shooting was in no way connected to the Pink Saturday event. That might be true, but some of the victims were on their way to the outdoor party -- and almost certainly wouldn't have been in the vicinity otherwise.

According to Oliver, outside counsel for SF Pride, more than 3,200 people have viewed this YouTube video, filmed by David Wilton.

"You did not, for example, title your video "shooting in front of Apple iPad advertisement." Nothing in the video has any connection with SF Pride or the Pride festivities. You simply chose to sensationalize your posting by wrongly associating a violent tragedy with the safe and peaceful, SF Pride. Your advertising harms SF Pride by that false association. It harms SF Pride's ability to attract attendees and sponsors for future events by creating the false impression that the event and festival were the site of a violent shooting."

SF Weekly contacted Wilton, but has not yet heard back. However, according to Wilton's website, he has since removed the objectionable material. "I received a conciliatory email today from Ms. Brooke Oliver, thanking me for removing the objectionable material, urging me to be more careful in the future and inviting me to participate in future Pride celebrations. She also withdrew the demand for $10,000 in damages."

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