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Organizers change rules for St. Patrick's Day parade
Group whose members were arrested in ’07 invited to march
Organizers of Colorado Springs’ St. Patrick’s Day parade have lifted a ban on protests in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the 2007 debacle, when anti-war activists were dragged from the parade and arrested.
John O’Donnell, parade chairman, said Friday the parade no longer has a ban on “social issues,” which organizers cited last year when they ordered 45 marchers out of the parade. Police arrested seven, though charges against them were eventually dropped.
The parade will limit the number of marchers to 35 per entry — excluding marching bands — and limit them to one banner and two signs.
O’Donnell recently met with the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, the anti-war group whose members were prevented from marching, and has invited them to march.
“Our job is to get through this year with as little difficulty as possible and to let people know it has always been easy to work with us,” O’Donnell said.
The anti-war protesters were marching under the permit of The Bookman, a business owned by Eric Verlo, chairman of the peace group.
They did not leave the road when a parade official stopped them — forcing other entries to move around them — and organizers asked police to remove them.
Video and photographs showed police apparently handling them roughly, including one marcher who received a road-rash welt when officers dragged her out of the street.
A two-day trial in August resulted in a hung jury and mistrial, and the city attorney’s office concluded it was “not in the public interest” to retry the protesters on charges of obstructing the street.
O’Donnell, who made the decision to order them out of last year’s parade and testified in the trial, said he wants to work with the group this year.
“There’s nothing to be served by digging in our heels at somebody and being angry at somebody,” he said.
The limit on the number of participants is not a reaction to the incident, he said, but an effort to speed up the parade.
As to striking the prohibition on social issues, he said, “We thought it would eliminate a lot of trouble.”
Jeff Briggs, executive director of the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, said he is fine with the changes.
“I’m not anticipating any problems,” said Briggs. “I know surprises can happen, but I think everything has been considered.”
The group plans to march this year, and will abide by the restrictions, he said.
The parade will be noon to 2 p.m. March 15 on Tejon Street.
Said O’Donnell: “We’re hoping for a seamless event. We’re hoping for a lot of families to come down.”
CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-1605 or scott.rappold@gazette.com
