Ping!
As I understand it , it is for safety's sake..A poster with a cross pictured is not prohibited..They ban wooden "crosses" with posters attached.
"Individuals attending the parade are free to display the symbol of the cross on signs or images or banners, or use the symbol in any other way that does not conflict with regulations governing prohibited materials.".....
From this it looks like they aren't banning crosses per se, just objects that could potentially conceal a weapon.
They are banning cardboard posters at the actual inauguration ceremony...so I have a cloth 1st Cav Banner. You make do.
Since they are allowing symbols, I see nothing wrong with them banning the real thing as they could be used as a weapon or a place for concealing them.
Is this because the cross could be used as a weapon, or because it could hide a weapon? If they're going to ban all big objects like that, then I don't see why they should have to make a special exemption for crosses.
Looks like they don't want to have large ones that can be thrown or dropped in front of the limo. Something smaller is not likely an issue. But remember, Richard Reid put bombs in his shoes... smaller items but still with enough capacity to take down a jetliner of properly ignited.
My opinion is this is a guy who seeks publicity by claiming religious persecution.
Make smaller crosses out of lightweight cardboard, if you must, folks.
Sheesh!
Leni
They are not banning crosses, the Christian symbol. They are banning sticks.
A hundred people with sticks can form a pike line that would give the police real problems.
As for banning coffins, you don't hear vampires complaining.
This is over the top. Carrying a cross to a parade is stupid, and of value only to whack jobs who feel a need to stir the conflict pot.
What's wrong with simply wearing a large fabric cross, if a "statement" is the objective?
On the one hand the government is allowing 10,000 angry hornets to mass at the starting point of the parade. They are also allowing them to build bleachers to hold 1,000 protesters--giving them high ground from which to launch objects at the parade participants and materiel (the bleacher parts) with which to use as weapons.
On the other hand, the law-abiding demonstrators have to quibble over handheld crosses and little American flags on sticks.