Amherst takes control of July 4 parade, will allow all political views

BY Scott Merzbach
Staff Writer

Published on April 25, 2008

Explicitly stated political views and protests will be allowed during the town's July 4th parade, beginning in 2009. Town Manager Larry Shaffer told the Select Board Wednesday the town will begin running the annual parade next year.

Town Manager Larry Shaffer told the Select Board Wednesday the town will begin running the annual parade next year.

The decision to take over the parade will put an end to a private group's organizing of the event, which began the year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as a means of honoring public safety and law enforcement personnel. It has also come to recognize veterans and active military personnel.

But the idea of a private parade using public streets has proven controversial. Its organizers have had people removed from the parade for holding signs considered offensive, including people protesting the war in Iraq.

"How is that on the nation's birthday, in Amherst, any American can be denied their constitutional right to freedom of speech on town-owned streets during a celebration ostensibly devoted to that freedom so denied," Shaffer said Wednesday. "I am sorry to report that I have not been able to successfully communicate that irony to the July Fourth Parade Committee."

Shaffer met with organizers Kevin Joy and Larry Kelley, urging them to end their restrictions on free speech in the parade.

They responded with a clarified policy that allows every organization to hold a sign or banner with its name, but prohibits obscene language, political statements or anything not in keeping with the spirit of the parade.

This policy was not sufficient for Shaffer, who said the town parade will be a place for any group to participate.

"There will be no groups unwelcome in this parade," said Shaffer, pointing out that the only exceptions will be for obscenities and hate crimes.

Kelley was present at the meeting in his role as a community blogger, but he would not comment, leaving the Town Hall visibly upset after he was told that if the private organizers applied for a permit next year, they would be denied. Select Board Chairman Gerry Weiss later said the permit would only be denied for the July 4 date.

But Kelley did post this on his blog: "In a stunning, despicable, display of Political Correctness (Only in) Amherst Town Manager Larry Shaffer single-handedly decided to "Take Over" the July 4th Parade in 2009."

He also suggested on his blog that he might march in the 2009 parade holding a sign with an obscenity directed at Shaffer.

Board's reaction

Weiss said he supports Shaffer's idea for the parade because the town should not be a party to limiting free speech.

"I want to thank you for taking a position and articulating a position," Weiss said.

Board member Stephanie O'Keeffe said she was sorry the parade had come to being defined by the free speech issue.

Board member Alisa Brewer said some residents feel the town has bullied parade organizers through threats of removing police and fire vehicles from this year's parade.

Board Vice Chairwoman Anne Awad noted that it has become increasingly difficult for town officials to march in a parade where people's viewpoints are being censored.

For Nancy Foster of Hillcrest Place, the decision was a satisfying one. Foster is a member of the anti-war group Sage, which has been allowed to hold Bill of Rights signs in the parade, a compromise reached with the organizers. But she has been unable to express her opinion in the parade that President Bush has undermined these rights.

Carol Rothery of the League of Women Voters said she was pleased with the decision to allow the parade to be a forum for people to speak out on issues of the day.

Despite Shaffer's decision, the parade scheduled for this year will go on as planned. Town vehicles will be in it, as will police officers and firefighters. Shaffer, who said he served as a United States Army medic from 1967 to 1970, will march this year. "The private parade will be conducted this year and I won't step in front of that," Shaffer said.

Shaffer complimented the parade organizers. "Since 2002, the private group has done a remarkable job in organizing and conducting a parade to celebrate July 4th in Amherst," Shaffer said.

But Shaffer said putting the parade under the auspices of Leisure Services and Supplemental Education, which also runs the July 4th fireworks, can be successful.

How the parade will be funded is yet to be determined.

"I do think there is a public role in the celebration of the Fourth of July," Shaffer said.