11 Investigates: Attorney for Juneteenth organizer blasts city permit process, files legal action

PITTSBURGH — The organizer of the largest Juneteenth celebration in the region is taking the city of Pittsburgh to court.

While B. Marshall’s 12th-annual festival is only three weeks away, he’s yet to get his official permit from the city.

Chief Investigator Rick Earle broke this story about the legal action this afternoon on WPXI.COM, and he also spoke with Marshall’s attorney, who filed a petition in Allegheny County Common Pleas court to force the city to issue the event permit.

“For some strange reason unknown to all of us, this current administration is sitting on their hands and not issuing a permit,” said Phil DiLucente, who represents Marshall.

Attorney Phil DiLucente is blasting the city for failing to issue a permit for B. Marshall’s Juneteenth celebration that’s only several weeks away, and now taking legal action.

DiLucente, on behalf of Marshall and his non-profit, Stop the Violence Pittsburgh, filed a writ of mandamus petition with the courts in an effort to force the city to issue a permit for the celebration that’s scheduled at Mellon Park in East Liberty from June 19th to the 22nd.

It will be Marshall’s 12th Juneteenth celebration in the city of Pittsburgh.

“Mr. Marshall has not only started and founded this in Pittsburgh, he was one of the first in the country. This has been going on since 2013 without a blip,” said DiLucente.

Marshall filed the request for a permit with the city back in February, and in April, he outlined the details to the city’s Special Events Committee.

DiLucente said he believes the city is intentionally delaying the permit because of Marshall’s well-publicized run-ins with Mayor Ed Gainey over funding.

Gainey pulled Marshall’s $125,000 city funding last year, but after public outcry, city council reinstated it.

Marshall did not receive city funding this year.

DiLucente said everything is a go for the festival this year, except the final permit from the city.

“We want to make sure the 65,000 people in this city that annually celebrate it, like 2024, and over five, six million dollars approximately brought into the city, this continues. We have major sponsors, Mr. Marshall does and we’re going to make sure that this gets done,” said DiLucente.

Among some of this year’s sponsors are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Dollar Bank.

The city sent the email response below after 11 Investigates reached out for comment.

“As previously communicated to Mr. B. Marshall, the Office of Film and Event Permitting has advised that his permit application remains under review. Final determination is pending the outcome of discussions between Mr. Marshall and PennDOT regarding whether – and under what terms – PennDOT will authorize the temporary closure of a portion of Penn Avenue for the event. This information is essential for the City to complete its review, as it will determine whether the inclusion of a detour route is necessary as part of the permit application.

Regarding the Writ, please note that the City has not been formally served at this time and, as such, is unable to provide comment.”

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