Letter to the editor: Un-American parading (July 2006)
I find it hard to accept that the Takoma Park City Council would support the ban on candidates who are challenging incumbents at the 4th of July parade. It seems unAmerican (and certainly not consistent with the Peoples Republic of Takoma Park!) to allow incumbents—who are often corrupted by corporate money—in the parade while excluding ethical, progressive challengers like Jamin Raskin.
Not only are incumbents allowed to march in the parade but they are even given cars! While challengers must be second class citizens not even allowed to pass out literature from the street. It feels very much like a clear case of political prejudice to me.The argument that this is not a political forum is a poor one especially since incumbents running for office participate. These days more and more public space is taken over by private corporate interests thereby making it harder and harder for people running for office to speak to potential voters. There are not that many candidates running for office—there are not even that many offices—that allowing candidates would change the flavor of the event.
Running for office is a difficult thing to do in the United States and blocking candidates from participating in patriotic events where citizens are gathered only makes it more difficult.
Here we are on Independence Day—celebrating our nation, which is based on free speech and democracy, and Takoma Park is closing down public space to people running for office, denying free speech to political candidates. This is a wrong headed policy. I’m participating in several parades, Dundalk (the largest in the state), Annapolis, and Hereford, where candidates are allowed. So, while this may not be a unique situation it is certainly a minority approach. I would hope Takoma Park would lean toward freedom of speech rather than denial of freedom of speech.
Is the city putting money into this parade? This is a policy that should be reversed!
— Kevin Zeese
Takoma Park, MD
Kevin Zeese is the Maryland Green Party candidate for the U.S. Senate.