Hassig supports his claim with reports issued by the World Health Organization, which state that Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) do threaten environmental and human health. He put his three panel poster board with the message "POPs cause Cancer" on a bench at the edge of the water, then danced on the beach. He continued to dance after Parishville Recreation Director Jeff Woods asked him to leave.

Hassig says he chose Parishville Park as a site for educational outreach because of the amount of children there. In a press release, Hassig wrote, "I hope that the children who saw what happened at the Town Park today grow up fast and become fellow revolutionaries."

When state police arrived, Hassig chose to accept his arrest papers and go home, rather than ride to Canton to receive his charges.