Two Harbors cemetery parking dispute sparks debate over free expression

A seemingly narrow parking dispute at Lakeview Cemetery turned into a broader test of how Two Harbors enforces its rules on public property and how far a city can go when political expression is involved. Breakwall Indivisible had been parking there for more than a year when the city notified the group that a long-standing ordinance barred vehicles from using cemetery roads and grounds in that way.

The issue came before the Two Harbors City Council at its May 26 meeting, and the room was packed with supporters. City records also show the council held a special meeting on June 3, underscoring how quickly the matter kept drawing official attention after the regular meeting. Lakeview Cemetery is a city cemetery, and the city lists it on its website along with contact information and notes that Two Harbors Public Works is responsible for cemetery maintenance.

At the center of the dispute is a 1944 ordinance stating that cemetery grounds or roads may not be used as a public thoroughfare and that vehicles may not drive through except to make deliveries. Cindy Kosiak, representing Breakwall Indivisible, argued that the language reaches through-traffic but does not expressly mention parking. The city attorney said the city reads the ordinance as covering parking within the cemetery. A permit-based compromise was raised during the discussion, but the city attorney rejected it.

Kosiak said a permit was not necessary and suggested alternatives, including a public initiative or continuing to park there and challenging the matter if the city issued a ticket. She also warned that forcing the group to park farther away could create safety problems and could be seen as a chilling effect on free speech. Rick Evans, speaking for the group, said Breakwall Indivisible had come before council three times in 14 months and stressed that its rallies were staged to be respectful of residents, police and local businesses.

The parking fight did not emerge in isolation. In a September 25, 2025 letter to the editor, Breakwall Indivisible said it had consulted the Two Harbors Police Department when planning its gatherings and said police suggested the group meet on the public sidewalk along 7th Avenue and park in the cemetery to avoid pedestrians crossing traffic. That letter said the group would move its weekly Friday rallies to Saturday mornings starting October 18, 2025. By February 10, 2026, Evans and other members were again at the Lake County Board, where they appeared during public comment and submitted a February 9 letter to city, county and law-enforcement officials. The cemetery dispute now sits at the intersection of local land use, ordinance enforcement and the city’s obligation to treat future requests for public space consistently.