OPA Board President Cites Bullying, Harassment By Knupp Supporters; Family Opts To Not Engage With Response

BERLIN – The Knupp family officially maintained the high road this week amid accusations from the Ocean Pines Association supporters are threatening and bullying.

In a pointed statement issued last Saturday, OPA Board President Doug Parks called out the “Do It For Gavin” Facebook group for “harassment” of the Ocean Pines community. The Facebook group, which now has over 20,000 members, was created after last July’s tragic hit-and-run death of Gavin Knupp, 14, on Grays Corner Road.

“Beyond the foundation that was created in Gavin’s honor and the wonderful things that have been accomplished, a Facebook group named Do It For Gavin was formed to among other things, share information and opinions regarding the issue. We have been told that for the most part the group discussed things in a reasonable manner but at some point, the tone changed from sharing information to targeting businesses and conducting protests and boycotts,” Parks said. “Quite frankly, while some may disagree, we see no issue at all with that course of action. However, their actions also included bullying of the business staff, bullying of children at school and threatening organizations, customers and OPA board members. Their actions demonstrated a move away from justice to a support for vengeance.”

The statement continued, “What we have issue with is, given that the targeted business has been sold, the group has now turned its attention to Ocean Pines. Their tactics have been to bully and threaten organizations and entertainment providers from having events at our Yacht Club. As an example, because of the harassment that was going on the in the community by this group the Ravens Roost organization decided to move their planned fundraising event from the Yacht Club to another location. The Veterans Memorial Fund-Raising event was disrupted by this group as the planned entertainer backed out from performing. Organizers were told if the event was held at the Yacht Club, that the Memorial was going to be vandalized. On another note, the band that was scheduled to perform at the St. Patrick’s Day event last week backed out at the last minute due to being harassed by this group. Do these actions convey a desire for justice or vengeance?”

The motorist who struck and killed Knupp, who was crossing Grays Corner Road at night as a pedestrian, has been linked to the yacht club as his mother and stepfather both worked there last summer. The motorist fled the scene of the collision and has yet to turn himself in. The vehicle involved in the collision was confiscated by police shortly after the fatality at the alleged motorist’s family home. No other public press releases have been released by police since the vehicle was discovered.

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PUBLISHERS NOTES: The “bullying” needs to stop. You don’t see this Family picketing the State Police or Attorney. Time after time Gavin’s parents continue to say, charges will be filed any day. There will be no charges as Gavin was crossing the road without a cross walk, Pedestrian laws in Maryland state that if you are crossing a road without a cross walk and you are struck it is the pedestrians fault, PERIOD. While I, like so many of you, believe the driver should’ve stopped and assisted to help save Gavin, karma will come back and bite that SOB’s ass throughout the rest of their lifetime. However, STOP bullying businesses and start doing good in Gavin’s memory. The Knupp Family is out of line. I know many people who have now removed their bumper stickers. I also know a number of people who have stopped visiting certain bars/restaurants simply because they keep trying to shove wrist bands and bumper stickers down the customers throats. I hear Crab Cake Factory West is one of them. R.I.P. Gavin.