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Minnesota Now with Cathy Wurzer
Cathy Wurzer and Kelly Gordon

Why is drawing with chalk on the sidewalk now illegal in Anoka?

Broken chalk on the street.
Broken sidewalk chalk sits on Chicago Avenue on May 26 as protestors gather near the site where George Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. In the city of Anoka, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk is now against the law, thanks to a new sweeping ordinance.
Evan Frost | MPR News 2020

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Remember drawing with chalk on the sidewalk outside your house when you were a kid? Maybe you scrawled out a hopscotch grid, or maybe you came up with something more intricate.

In the city of Anoka, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk is now against the law, thanks to a sweeping ordinance passed by the Anoka City Council. The ordinance covers all kinds of displays on city property, including flags, murals, banners and — yes — even chalk drawings.

Erik Skogquist was the only City Council member to vote against the ordinance. As he explained to host Cathy Wurzer, the policy isn't aimed at kids in the street — it's actually part of a debate about private opinions being expressed on public property.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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