Yesterday, the big day finally came -- Saint Patrick's Peace Parade: People's Parade for Peace, Equality, Jobs, Social and Economic Justice.
 |
| Pat Scanlon and Tony Flaherty, two of the main parade organizers. |
As in years past, the Veterans For Peace request to join the "official" (or "traditional") St. Patrick's Day Parade was denied by the Allied War Veterans Council of South Boston. So was the request of Join the Impact and MassEquality (both LGBT organizations). (Read article about the MassEquality experience at this link, along with a copy of the letter they received from the Allied War Veterans.)
Not being allowed to march in the "official" parade, for the second year Veterans For Peace and other groups (notably Massachusetts Peace Action with the leadership of Cole Harrison) organized the St. Patrick's Peace Parade (the People's Alternative Parade...). This year's parade was bigger than the first one, perhaps two or three times bigger (I don't have a good count yet).
Not being allowed to march in the "official" parade, for the second year Veterans For Peace and other groups (notably Massachusetts Peace Action with the leadership of Cole Harrison) organized the St. Patrick's Peace Parade (the People's Alternative Parade...). This year's parade was bigger than the first one, perhaps two or three times bigger (I don't have a good count yet).
There were several divisions in the Peace Parade, including: Veterans For Peace, GLBT groups, religious/faith-based groups, labor, peace groups, political groups, and Occupy.
