A Minnesota activist and school board member has come under fire after making a controversial social media comment while discussing plans to close a popular off-leash dog park in Minneapolis.
Chauntyll Allen, a member of the St. Paul Public Schools board and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, posted on Facebook that dog parks should instead be located in “white Christian cemeteries” if those communities considered such use acceptable.
She went on to write that Indigenous land should remain protected while adding an inflammatory remark suggesting dogs should instead relieve themselves on the graves of white Christians.
pThe post quickly spread online, prompting strong reactions from both supporters and critics.
Dog Park Closure Sparks Heated Public Debate
Allen’s comments came as Minneapolis officials continue moving forward with plans to permanently close the Minnehaha Dog Park, a popular 6.6-acre off-leash recreation area situated along the Mississippi River.
Earlier this month, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board voted to decommission the dog park by the end of the year following concerns raised about the site’s cultural and historical significance.
Officials said the area lies within the Mni Owe Sni, or Coldwater Spring, Traditional Cultural Place, which is regarded as sacred by Dakota communities.
Officials Cite Cultural and Historical Importance
Park Board President Tom Olsen said additional historical research revealed the location holds far greater cultural importance than previously understood.
He acknowledged that the park has long served local dog owners but argued that the city’s understanding of the land’s history requires a different approach to how the space is used in the future.
The decision followed an archaeological assessment indicating that portions of the property may contain unmarked burial sites connected to the aftermath of the US-Dakota War of 1862.
Dakota Representatives Support the Decision
Native leaders have welcomed the board’s action, saying it reflects long-overdue recognition of places considered sacred for generations.
Maggie Lorenz, executive director of Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, explained that many Dakota people died during the harsh winter following their forced confinement at Fort Snelling after the 1862 conflict.
According to Lorenz, numerous unmarked graves are believed to exist throughout the surrounding area, making it inappropriate for dogs to roam freely there.
She also noted that detailed information about possible burial locations has intentionally not been released publicly because of concerns that archaeological sites could become targets for looting or vandalism.
Residents Offer Conflicting Opinions
The proposal divided residents during public meetings before the board’s vote.
Some speakers argued that the dog park has served the community responsibly for decades and that public land should remain accessible for recreation.
Others maintained that preserving Indigenous cultural sites should take priority, saying the presence of an off-leash dog park conflicts with the religious and cultural significance of the location.
Supporters of the closure described it as an opportunity to acknowledge historical injustices and better protect culturally important land.
Facebook Exchange Escalates
The discussion intensified after Allen shared her comments in a public Facebook group dedicated to Minnehaha Dog Park, which has more than 1,500 members.
The conversation quickly turned into a heated argument, with hundreds of responses expressing sharply divided opinions before moderators eventually disabled further comments.
Some users condemned Allen’s remarks as offensive and inappropriate for a public official, while others focused instead on the broader debate surrounding the protection of Indigenous sacred sites.
Critics Challenge Both the Remarks and the Evidence
Among Allen’s critics were commenters who questioned her fitness to serve on the St. Paul school board, arguing that her language unnecessarily inflamed an already sensitive issue.
Others disputed claims that the park contains burial sites, pointing to its flood-prone geography and asserting that no publicly released evidence has confirmed the existence of graves within the off-leash area.
Some participants emphasized that their opposition to the closure stemmed from the loss of Minneapolis’ only legal off-leash dog park rather than disagreement with protecting historically significant land.
Meanwhile, other commenters accepted the possibility of protecting sacred sites but questioned whether sufficient documentation had been presented to justify permanently closing the popular recreational space.
Separate Legal Issues Continue
Allen’s latest comments arrive as she continues to face unrelated legal challenges.
She has been charged with felony offenses connected to the January 18 incident at Cities Church in St. Paul, where federal prosecutors allege she participated in a protest involving an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstration.
The charges remain pending, and the legal case is separate from the current controversy surrounding her comments about the Minneapolis dog park.
