This year, Louise Steinbach and the Gala festival have again incited controversy. Over the same issue. Last year, Steinbach told various groups, such as the McHenry County Peace Group and the Libertarian Party, that they can march in the parade, but not express any views. That in itself denied those groups their first amendment rights and was blatantly unfair, because other “groups”, such as various politicians could both march in the parade and express their views. Why not the Peace Group? This year, Steinbach took it one step further. Not only are those groups not allowed to express views, they are prevented from marching in the parade in the first place! That’s right, the McHenry County Peace Group and the Libertarian party are not even allowed to participate in the parade. Why? Well, Ms. Steinbach feels that the parade is a private parade for families to enjoy, so political views do not have a place for it. Of course, she means not just political views, but the views that she doesn’t agree with. Its alright for the Republican parties, and various politicians and church groups to shower people with their views, hold up signs stating what they stand for and believe in, but if it’s something Steinbach and the parade organizers do not believe in, then those groups may not be allowed in the parade. Taken to this extent, what is the parade, really? Why, it’s a way for Steinbach and those who planned this to allow their political parties and their views to be expressed, while others are banned from so much as marching in the parade. This is as elitist as one can get. We have gotten to the point in McHenry County where we celebrate the 4th of July, the day of Independence for the whole country, by banning people from participating because we don’t agree with their views. That’s very pathetic. We can and should do better than that.
Source – Northwest Herald
Politics step to forefront of parade
CRYSTAL LAKE – The McHenry County Democratic Party announced Thursday that it will withdraw from the Crystal Lake Gala Parade in response to the parade committee’s decision to bar the McHenry County Peace Group.Democratic Party Chairman Thomas Cynor said that the move was in response to growing concern about what appeared to be the Gala committee’s decision to ban groups based on their message.“At some point, I think we have all come to realize that this is a slippery slope,” Cynor said. “Basically what the Gala committee has started to do is cherry-pick groups and/or issues they feel are inappropriate for the Gala Parade.”Gala co-chair Louise Steinbach said Thursday that the peace group was not being allowed into the parade because it broke rules that prohibit groups from expressing political statements.“We’re not banning them,” Steinbach said. “They broke the rules, and we’re not inviting them back because they broke the rules.”The Gala committee established rules after the 2005 parade, when the Libertarian Party pretended to arrest people along the parade route as part of their Homeland Security float. At that same parade, the McHenry County Peace Group held signs about the war in Iraq that upset some parade-goers. Last year, the peace group carried signs indicating the cost of the war in lives and tax dollars, a statement that Peace Group member Libby Pappalardo said she considered more of a fact than an opinion. Cynor said several organizations, political parties and candidates for public office regularly carried signs in the parade promoting themselves, and that the rules should be applied fairly to all groups. “We had a sign that said, ‘For the future, vote Democrat,’” Cynor said. “If that’s not a political statement, I don’t know what it is.” Pappalardo said that she did not want to disrupt the parade, but thought there was cause for concern in the Gala committee’s actions. “To me, this parade isn’t just for a good time,” Pappalardo said. “Parades are fun, but when you think about it, the purpose of the parade is to celebrate the Fourth of July, and we’re really celebrating our rights, including our right to free speech.” Steinbach said that the parade was not the time nor place for political statements, and that the parade was not an Independence Day celebration but a chance for families to gather and enjoy the festivities. “If they want to have a political parade, then have a political parade,” she said. “This is not an Independence Day parade; this is a Gala Parade.” The Gala Parade, which will take place July 1, was funded by about $3,000 in advertising fees from businesses, plus about $14,000 in costs the committee offsets through sponsorships and festival revenues, Steinbach said. Crystal Lake provides police protection for the event, but does not contribute taxpayer funds, she said. “We have a fantastic parade and everyone comes out and enjoys it, and it’s really disappointing that a few people have to steal the headlines from what the Gala is really all about,” Steinbach said. Cynor said that he planned to ask elected officials not to participate in the parade if the Gala committee did not reconsider the peace group’s application.
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