I observed that there was an entry in the Fourth of July parade that had signs challenging the SCOTUS decision on Roe v. Wade. Some examples were “Abortion is health care” and “With Roe gone, what is next?” I have never seen political issues featured in a parade before, in my almost five decades of attending and participating in Harvard’s Fourth of July parades. I do not think that the town parade is a proper venue for such issues. In the past, national, state, and local politicians have routinely been included as parade participants, each carrying signs or banners but not politicizing particular issues.
I urge future parade committees and town officials to ensure that the parade entrants are groups whose main focus is the celebration of our independence, our country’s birthday, and not to showcase divisive political issues. This year’s display was totally inappropriate.
Pam Marston
Madigan Lane
