Alyssa Bloechl

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

MANITOWOC - A June 11 pro-Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey rally in downtown Manitowoc will be held on a public sidewalk instead of county courthouse grounds, the event's organizer said.

Jackie West, a Lisle, Illinois, resident and organizer of the “We Stand 4 Innocence Rally,” said the county had requested a $1,560 non-refundable fee for security, a $250 refundable security deposit, a $100 permit application fee and insurance coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence of bodily injury and $250,000 for property damage.

West moved the rally to the sidewalk near the courthouse because the space is public property. The $100 permit fee has been paid, but the other fees and insurance have not.

“No, we are not doing either as of now, but I would agree to both (the security deposit and insurance) if they waive the $1,560 fee,” West said. “I think the $250 security deposit and insurance are reasonable requests; the other is not.”

Timeline: History of the Steven Avery case

The rally is in support of Avery and his nephew Dassey, who were convicted in 2007 of killing freelance photographer Teresa Halbach. The pair gained supporters worldwide after the Dec. 18 release of "Making a Murderer," a 10-episode Netflix docu-series that questions tactics used by the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department and raises concerns about the validity of the convictions.

Security services offered by the county for the $1,560 fee would be provided by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department — the same department called into question by the Netflix series.

Assistant Chief Scott Luchterhand of the Manitowoc Police Department said his department will be present during the rally and will work with the sheriff's department in some capacity.

"We will have people keeping an eye on the protesters, and our regular patrol will be out," Luchterhand said.

West’s permit indicates rally participants would be “around the courthouse and on (the) steps.”

Manitowoc County Public Works Department Director Gerard Neuser said the permit would be necessary if participants will be on the steps, but would not be needed if they were on the sidewalk.

Neuser said his department rarely receives applications for use of the courthouse grounds, and the permit process and associated fees have been in place for at least five years.

A previous protest in support of Avery and Dassey was held outside the courthouse in January, and Neuser said organizers did not apply for a permit to be on the steps. That protest drew about 60 Avery supporters, a handful of counter-protesters and many onlookers, but remained peaceful.

“We do not want to start physical confrontations,” West said. “People on the other side of this are planning to be there, but we’re just going to show support for Steven and Brendan and it’s going to be peaceful.”

The city police department was also on the scene for the January rally, which, according to Luchterhand, went off without a hitch.

"We are hoping people behave like last time," Luchterhand said. "We understand people want to get their opinions out, and we're sensitive to that."

Those who attend the rally will not block entrances to the courthouse or the streets and will not be an angry mob, according to West. She said a rally in Australia on May 30 in support of Avery and Dassey was conducted peacefully.

Luchterhand sent a document to rally organizers indicating expectations of conduct for the demonstration.

Six other rallies are scheduled for June 11 – in New York City, Washington, D.C., Sacramento, Louisville, Asheville, N.C. and Manchester, England.

The Manitowoc rally is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and according to the event's Facebook page, 110 people are interested and 33 people are planning to attend. During the rally weekend, organizers are hosting a camp-out event featuring a silent auction, barbecue and raffle.

Dwayne Allen Dail, wrongly jailed for 18 years in a child rape case and released from prison in 2007, is expected to make an appearance during the weekend, West said.

Rally participants will also spread awareness about Brendan Dassey’s Law, a proposal that would prevent minors from being questioned by authorities without a lawyer present.

West describes herself as more than just a viewer of "Making a Murderer."

Related: “Making a Murderer” coverage, archived stories and more

“I look at it like he (Avery) was framed, and Dassey was coerced into a confession,” West said. “I became obsessed. I spent the next month diving into everything I could find online.”

West has spent hours going over trial transcripts and items not included in the documentary, and has made three visits to the Avery Salvage Yard. She also writes for www.freebrendan.org.

Alyssa Bloechl: 920-686-2152 or abloechl@gannett.com; on Twitter @alyssabloechl.

MESSAGE FROM MANITOWOC POLICE TO PROTEST ORGANIZERS

The mission of the Manitowoc City Police Department is to work cooperatively with the community to prevent crime, maintain order and provide a safe environment for everyone. The intention of the below information is to define what is appropriate behavior during a demonstration. We do so as to provide a safe environment for the demonstrators along with the businesses and citizens of the city of Manitowoc. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to Freedom of Assembly and the right to protest peacefully. We recognize that these rights are critical to a functioning democracy and speak to the core of the First Amendment. The Chief of the Police Department or his/her designee shall meet with the representatives from the demonstration group and review the circumstances of the protest, expectations of conduct for the group and consequences which may occur for violations of State Laws or City Ordinances.

1.Peaceful demonstrations which do not violate any state statute or city ordinance will be allowed.

2.No acts of violence shall be permitted.

3.Any person who threatens, intimidates, uses force or coercion of any kind could face being arrested and removed from the demonstration.

4.The City of Manitowoc does have a Loud Noise Ordinance. This allows our businesses and citizens to conduct their lives in a peaceful manner. We expect any protesters to keep this fact in mind during their demonstrations.

5.Members of the demonstrating group, who are protesting on the sidewalk area, must continue to keep moving and are prohibited from performing any act that would prevent a person from entering any premises. All entrances to businesses, lots, or buildings must be kept clear at all times.

6.Demonstrators are allowed to stand, sit and mingle in any area that is designated for these purposes. In this instance that will be the west parking lot area of the Manitowoc County Courthouse and the surrounding grounds.

7.Representatives of the demonstrators shall file a list of responsible leaders with the Chief of Police in order to facilitate effective communication between the demonstrators and our community.

It is the hope of the Manitowoc Police Department that by working cooperatively during this demonstration that it allows everyone the opportunity to voice their concerns and at the same time provide a safe environment for everyone involved.