Pro-lifers barred from parade 'Issues' deemed not appropriate for community event

World Net Daily ^ | 06.22.03

[Coleus]

Pro-lifers barred from parade 'Issues' deemed not appropriate for community event

After seven years of participation, pro-life students were barred from a community parade in Michigan because "issues" were considered inappropriate for such an event.

The group didn't fit the theme of "cherries, children and fun," insisted a committee of volunteers who reviewed applications for the National Cherry Festival's Junior Royale Parade in Traverse City, the local Record-Eagle said.

That came as a surprise to Andrea Becker of Students for Life.

"I was disgusted really," she said, according to the daily. "We purposefully try to not put the word 'abortion' on the sign, and we purposefully tried to avoid the controversy in the first place. They allowed us before and now all of a sudden they don't."

The committee making the decision raised its standards this year to ensure participants conform with the National Cherry Festival's focus for the parade, Tom Kern, the festival's executive director, told the Record-Eagle

"The festival is about the promotion of cherries and the community; it should not be used as a platform for their issues," he said. "We aren't making a statement that these issues are good or bad but that the festival isn't the place."

The Traverse City paper said the festival, held July 5-12, does not have a written policy to determine which groups are allowed one of 120 spots in the parade, according to Kern.

A policy is being developed in consultation with attorneys and constitutional law experts, he said.

Students for Life had about 70 members walk the parade route last year with a banner reading "Celebrate life."

The group's president, Kevin Stinnet, said he cannot understand why Students for Life was rejected, noting members in the parade typically wear T-shirts with positive slogans and "act really upbeat," the Record-Eagle said.

Formed in 1995, the group holds an annual pro-life rally and makes presentations promoting abstinence at schools, youth groups and churches.

[Coleus]

More bias towards the pro life movement.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

More bias towards the pro life movement.

Were pro-abortion (or other politically-involved groups) permitted to march?

Sounds to me like a perfectly sensible policy of keeping politics out of non-political celebrations.

[7 x 77]

I agree with the parade officials, unless they let groups supporting other contentious views in. This doesn't sound like an appropriate setting, the same as my 7-year-old's birthday party wouldn't be an appropriate time to challenge my sister who kills embryonic children so she and her gay partner can have "natural" children.

There is time and a place for everything under heaven; you'll have the poor with you always; etc., etc.

[just me]

At the Sterling Heights MI Memorial Day Parade they have a small group of Pro Life marchers.
It is ok with me... I Love Life, and am all for it....

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP

[I still care]

I can understand them not wanting "issues", but what if the theme is "cherries, children, and fun", what is more children oriented than a pro life group?

In our area it usually is composed of young mothers and their children, as much of our group is charity oriented, and spends much time and effort procuring cribs, clothes, etc. for newborn babies.

[Coleus]

politics out of non-political celebrations.>>

students were barred from a "community parade" in>>>

I march with the county RTL in two parades a year and have always had positive results. The other side, planned parenthood also marches but on the opposite end. Public Parades should have public organizations marching in them. That's what parades are all about--showing off the different organizations in the community. It's Americana to have "politics" in parades, I have yet to see a parade without the Politicians Leading it flanked by the police, fire and rescue depts. It's now political to have the Boy Scouts (Dale Case, anti Homosexual) to march too, should we now not have the Scouts marching because of their very presence is a political statement. Veterans once worked for the government, should they be banned too?

The article stated that it's a "community Parade", the organizers are very wrong and biased against the Students' pro life group and I don't think a poster stating "Celebrate Life" is really that much of a "political statement". They marched previously and should continue to march.

[7 x 77]

It's Americana to have "politics" in parades, I have yet to see a parade without the Politicians Leading it

Now you got me thinking.

[LadyDoc]

NOT REALLY

you don't want anti abortionists carrying pictures of dead babies any more than you want PETA carrying pictures of dead cows, or anti war people carrying pictures of bombed out Iraqi cities.

For everything there is a time...

[Coleus]

For everything there is a time...>>

I understand and see your point but all they carry are "choose life" signs, nothing more, kind of innocuous, and whose to say that PETA, etc. are part of that community and I am sure if they did march they would probably have to use non-offensive signs as the RTL does. All I know is that I'll be marching on the 4th of July with the Right to Life where the applause is most gratifying :)

[CalvaryJohn]

I, for one, am getting a little sick of WND crying persecution every time we get defeated in the fair arena of public discourse. Joe Farah's gotten a little too paranoid for me to trust much of what's in his rag anymore.