KARE 11 Short Report on Josh Liljenquist and St. Paul Parks

KARE 11 short-report transcript

Transcript note: This transcript has been lightly edited for readability by correcting names, punctuation and obvious automated-transcription errors. The city’s allegations and Josh Liljenquist’s response are separately attributed. The petition count is a historical figure stated during the broadcast.

00:00 — KARE 11 introduces Liljenquist’s response

KARE 11 ANCHOR: In the last few hours, a popular TikToker has responded to a decision prohibiting him from St. Paul parks. Audrey Russo is at the live desk with the latest.

00:09 — Liljenquist says he plans to appeal

AUDREY RUSSO: Josh Liljenquist sent KARE 11 a statement overnight saying that he planned to appeal the six-month restriction. He said the city had been vague in its accusations.

JOSH LILJENQUIST, RECORDED STATEMENT: They haven’t provided me a single date or a single time of wrongdoing at the camp. And the part that was weird was I was never approached by anybody from the city or the police department beforehand.

00:33 — KARE 11 summarizes the city letter and petition

AUDREY RUSSO: The city’s letter accused Liljenquist of harassing and recording vulnerable people in the encampment at Pig’s Eye Park.

The letter referenced his TikTok page, which had millions of followers and included videos of Liljenquist pretending to be homeless. KARE 11 described those videos as showing him financially helping people who showed him kindness, as well as conducting direct outreach to people who were actually unhoused.

Liljenquist and his team said they always asked permission before posting someone’s story.

Liljenquist also started a Change.org petition asking the city to reconsider the restriction. Russo said the petition had 77 signatures when she checked it roughly 30 minutes before the report.