Harbor Days responds after criticism over its hire of controversial security guard
The organizers of Olympia Harbor Days, the just-completed maritime festival that happens each Labor Day weekend at Percival Landing, found themselves in a different position over the weekend after they heard from residents concerned about a festival security guard and that person’s social media activity.
On Saturday, social media posts began calling attention to a person hired to provide security with “a documented history of transphobic and hateful social media posts.” The posts and emails to the organization and the city of Olympia demanded an explanation for the hire and a response.
In response, the organizers released a statement, saying they will not work with this person again. The statement was posted on the Olympia Harbor Days’ Facebook page Sunday night.
“On Saturday evening, August 30, we were alerted that a company/individual providing private overnight security services to Olympia Harbor Days had an online presence sharing dangerous, hateful rhetoric about the LGBTQ+ community and other groups,” the statement reads.
An image lifted from the security guard’s Facebook activity shows the image of one person striking another with a bat under a headline that reads: “How to kindly tell someone your child doesn’t need to go see a drag show.”
The Olympian also heard from a resident over the weekend, who shared an email he wrote addressed to Harbor Days organizers and sponsors.
“Silence on this matter is not neutrality, it is complicity. By failing to address this (hiring) decision, Harbor Days and its sponsors are signaling that the safety and dignity of LGBTQ community members are negotiable,” the email reads. “That is unacceptable.”
“We take these concerns seriously,” the Harbor Days’ statement reads. “We have since ended our working relationship with this company/individual and will not use their services in the future. Our leadership team did not have prior knowledge of this person’s online history or community involvement. Going forward, we will strengthen our due diligence in hiring, including reviewing company websites and social media accounts when available.
“We also want to clarify that the South Sound Maritime Heritage Association (SSMHA) is the sole hiring entity for Harbor Days. Our valued partners — including the City of Olympia, Squaxin Island Tribe, and our many other sponsors — are not involved in our staffing decisions and should not be blamed.
“We are deeply grateful to the community members who reached out with their concerns and ideas, and we appreciate your understanding and patience as we worked to address the matter. Olympia Harbor Days & SSMHA are committed to ensuring our festival remains a safe, welcoming celebration for all, and we will continue to uphold that commitment in every aspect of our work.”
The Olympian reached out to the security guard on Tuesday, but did not get an immediate response.
This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 1:48 PM.
