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A private citizen's group, which has run Amherst's Fourth of July parade since 2002, is angry that the Town of Amherst's decision to hold a similar event may force them out.
The town established a parade because the citizen's group has prohibiting signs "protesting various actions by government," according to a recent press release.
The private organization, which referred to itself as the July Fourth Parade Committee, according to the Amherst Bulletin, still plans to hold a parade in 2009. However, they face an obstacle: the permit the town has taken out extends from the morning to the evening of that day.
"The town is saying they need nine hours, they're trying to box us out," said Larry Kelley, a member of the organization.
Town Manager Laurence Shaffer says the organization can still get a permit for its own parade on that day, or even collaborate with the town.
"They have put in a request, and there is more than one street," he said. "This is not about preventing their parade, it's about allowing ours. If they have a different street in town or a different time, we will be happy to look at it."
Shaffer, who introduced the change at the Select Board's meeting on April 23, says that since coming into office in 2006, he has received complaints from groups unable to "carry signs that are political in nature."
"There has been a steady drumbeat. I've met with the local Democratic Party, the local Republican Party, Sage and the League of Women Voters. They could march in the parade, but couldn't carry signs," explained Shaffer.
Kelley says it is within their rights as a private group to be restrictive about the participation in their parade so that it serves their intended purpose.
"We revived it in 2002, months after 9/11, to celebrate Independence Day, but also to honor firemen, policemen and the military," he said. "Amherst is so political 365 days a year. Why don't you have one hour that day to drop the politics?"
Kelley added that the organization has not turned down any groups from participating, including those based around a political idea, such as Vietnam Veterans Against the War. They have clarified their rules to say that groups can carry only one designating sign each, to avoid individuals with political protest signs.
"It's about abortion, it's about gay rights, it's about beating seals," he said. "We're just not going to have politics period. We're going to celebrate the birth of our country."
Shaffer argued that "the organization seems to be the antithesis of what the Fourth of July is all about," because it causes citizens to feel they "cannot express themselves on July 4, which is the nation's independence day, the day it celebrates freedom, the founding spirit of the country."
According to the Springfield Republican, Select Board member Stephanie J. O'Keeffe asked for a meeting to discuss the issue in the near future.
Kelley would be prepared to take further steps in order to insure the private organization gets their parade.
"I'm 100 percent positive that if this goes to litigation we will win. The First Amendment protects from government intrusion," he said. "We will be running a parade in 2009."
Shaffer is confident as well.
"On the Fourth of July, citizens will be able to carry signs."
Caitlin Quinn can be reached at cquinn@student.umass.edu.
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