Dear Al,
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered
(LGBT) groups will march in South Boston on March 16 in the welcoming and
inclusive Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade, that follows the first parade on the
same parade route, organized by Veterans For Peace.
For the fourth year in a row, LGBT Groups will
march in the Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade in South Boston. “Some day these walls
of exclusion and division will come tumbling down," said Carisa Cunningham, the
Director of Public Affairs for the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders
(GLAD). "It will be a proud day for the City of Boston when one’s sexual
orientation is not a litmus test for who can participate in a parade”.
 Veterans For
Peace is organizing what parade organizers call the only “Peace Parade” in the
country. The Peace Parade is energizing, with great music, great messages
and just a lot of fun for everyone!
The Allied War Veterans Council (AWVC), the
group that runs the traditional Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, has again snubbed
the LGBT community and Veterans For Peace. Mayor Marty Walsh has attempted to
negotiate an acceptable compromise with the AWVC with no results as of today.
Mayor Walsh, as his predecessor before him, has announced that he will not walk
in the traditional parade because of the parade’s exclusionary practices.
For the past four years Veterans For Peace has
organized their own alternative welcoming and inclusive parade after being
denied to walk in the traditional parade in 2011. “We have never been denied
permission to walk in any parade except for this parade”, stated Pat Scanlon,
the Coordinator for Veterans For Peace for the greater Boston area and principal
organizer of the Peace Parade. “I am a decorated Vietnam Veteran, with seventeen
years of Catholic education, born on Saint Patrick’s Day and I can’t walk in
their parade because my fellow veterans and I stand for peace. That is shameful
and the exclusion an embarrassment to this great city”.
“Bravo” said Scanlon, “to the new mayor of
Boston Marty Walsh for standing on principle and announcing that he will not
walk in the traditional parade unless LGBT groups can march under their own
banners. It is 2014 and time for these antiquated divisive practices to come
to an end,” added Scanlon. “We hope every politician follows Mayor Walsh’s lead
and not participate in the first parade until every group who wants to celebrate
Saint Patrick and the proud Irish traditions can”.
This year will be quite different. Street
sweepers, that for the past three years have been placed behind the first
parade, dispersing onlookers, will now be behind the Saint Patrick’s Peace
Parade allowing all the revelers in Southie to see and hear both parades.
Scanlon added, “it is our hope that someday there will be one, welcoming,
inclusive parade in South Boston, with everyone invited to celebrate Saint
Patrick and the proud Irish traditions. Sadly, that probably will not happen
this year -- maybe next."
People's Parade for Peace, Equality, Jobs,
Environmental Stewardship, Social & Economic Justice
Unite, Participate, Celebrate
Sunday, March 16, 2014, 1:00 pm
D
Street & West Broadway, South Boston • Look for white "Vets for Peace"
Flags
Assemble: 1pm. Parade start: 2pm Sign Up to Attend and Bring your Organization's
Banner!
There are several DIVISIONS marching in the parade, as well as two marching
bands, Duck Boats, bagpipers, and the Bread and Puppet Theater.. The DIVISIONS
are: Veterans groups; Peace groups; LGBT groups; Faith groups; environmental
groups; social and economic justice groups; labor groups; political groups.
Please invite your group(s) to come!
Contact: Massachusetts Peace Action, Cole Harrison, info@masspeaceaction.org, 617-354-2169; Veterans for Peace,
Pat Scanlon, info@massvfp.org, 978-475-1776; faith groups contact Lara
Hoke, minister@uuandover.org.
Please join us for our Fourth Annual Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade, the
Alternative People’s Parade for Peace, Equality, Jobs, Environmental
Stewardship, Social and Economic Justice.
Logistics & Directions
Sign Up to Attend and Bring your Organization's
Banner!
The parade route is 4.5 miles and ends at Andrew Station.
 Rides along the parade route
are available for those who need them, but please let us know ahead of time that
you may need a ride.
Come by T if at all possible as the area will be very
congested. Broadway is the closest MBTA subway station.
Parking is available for participants in the St. Patrick’s
Peace Parade. Vehicles must enter from the north from
Summer Street onto D Street; the parking lot is at 383 D Street. Look for the
lot with 40 foot white truck trailers. Allow extra time for traffic.
Directions
From North
Route I-93 to South Station exit (20 A). Merge onto Purchase Street to light
(100 feet). Make a left onto Summer Street (will pass South Station on right).
Go approx. 1 mile to Convention Center. Turn right onto D Street, parking lot .2
mile up on left, (look for VFP Flag)
From South
Route I-93 – Take exit 20 toward South Station. Follow signs for Chinatown,
continue straight onto Lincoln Street, turn right onto Kneeland Street, turn
left onto Atlantic, south Station will be up on your right. Take a right onto
Summer Street. Go approx. 1 mile to Convention Center. Turn right onto D Street,
parking lot .2 mile up on left, (look for VFP
Flag) |
Be sure to bring your Chapter’s or Organization’s banners, signs and costumes
and join us in our fabulous Fourth Annual Saint Patrick’s Peace
Parade.
 On behalf of the Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade
Organizing Committee.
Thank you,
Pat Scanlon (VN '69)
Coordinator, VFP Chapter 9, Smedley Butler
Brigade
Vets4PeaceChapter9@gmail.com Phone: 978-475-1776
Cole Harrison
Executive Director, Massachusetts Peace Action
|
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