This protest would not exist if Peter Carroll (ORF Inc. owner) had been reasonable. After Dan Roth informed us that Marietta Marcin had been fired, we offered to move on in exchange for proper compensation for our building and an apology. As rich as Peter is, we doubt it was the money we feel he owed us. We feel it was the apology we insisted on receiving. So we took it to the people. Now, the protest has a life of its own. One which far out reaches our own initial complaints. Now we address complaints sent to us by other merchants and participants.

This is a picture of my husband and I with fellow merchants during the year prior to his accident. He is the man holding the blacksmith sign. I am the woman by his side. A lot has changed since this happy time. Most due to the actions of Peter Carroll, owner of the Ohio Renaissance Festival Inc. Still, they were good times and we do miss them.

In 2007, after a bad fall in the showers provided by the Ohio Renaissance Festival, we didn’t think about a law suit. We thought about a civil conversation in which we would explain that no slip mats, grab rails, and seats were required by law. My husband approached ORF Inc. management Marietta Marcin. He was told to keep his mouth shut. It was clear that our business was in jeopardy, so we said nothing to anyone but friends. Shortly there after, horribly defamatory statements were made about my husband. Those claims were followed by our being refused a lease for the 2008 season. We were assured by Peter Carroll himself that we would be compensated for the building. We continued to remain silent because the we desperately needed the $20,000.00 we invested in the building to fund a move to another festival.

When it became clear that we had been lied to by Peter Carroll, we decided it was time to open our mouths. First about our complaints and then about the complaints that other people have given to us. My husband initially did this in a very rude manner. I am attempting to be a bit more tactful. This could have been settled civilly and quietly, but Peter Carroll refused. So today, this protest has a life of its own.

 
We believe that due to agreements made with local officials, Peter Carroll thinks he is somehow shielded not only from the mandates of decency but from the mandates of law.  We believe the future will show that Peter Carroll is wrong.  We feel very strongly that in the United States of America, even the ultra-rich have to adhere to matters of law and taxation.  

Contact: press (at) orfprotest.com
Replace (at) with @ of course.