Statement of Labor•Fest, Inc. Regarding Parade Participation

Labor•Fest, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization that seeks to promote the Labor Day holiday by marking the contribution of the American worker to the success of our society. The primary activity of Labor•Fest is to produce the Labor Day Parade in Downtown Janesville. We encourage participation by a wide variety of groups in the parade to provide a high level of quality family entertainment.

This year the theme of the Parade was "A Family and Community Celebration" We expect that a participant in our Parade will represent our theme in a positive and upbeat manner. For the past couple of years we have received negative feedback regarding the unit entered by the pro-life group. The parade after all, is a celebration for our area.

All parade participants are asked to describe any material to be distributed on the parade route at the time they register for the parade. This year the pro-life group misrepresented during registration the materials to be distributed. In addition, we had received concern that at a previous parade this year the group had conducted a mock funeral, this behavior is the issue.

Labor•Fest officials then met with representatives of the group to suggest modifications to their entry to have their unit conform to the sprit of this festive family event. The group refused to consider changes and threaten a lawsuit against Labor•Fest. The decision was then made to bar the group’s participation due to their failure to cooperate with the parade organizers.

In 1995 the U.S. Supreme Court recognized that parade organizers have the right to ban participation of any group which conveys an objectionable message. (HURLEY et al. v. IRISH AMERICAN GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL GROUP OF BOSTON et al, No. 94-749).

The Parade Committee, in order to hold a safe event, controls speed, content, number of units and items to be distributed. The Parade Committee must do this in order to oversee a smooth event.

A compromise was made to allow the group to distribute some of their literature along the parade route so long as objectionable conduct was not included. The group subsequently then violated this agreement and continued to distribute other materials.

Several years ago Labor•Fest prevented a labor union group from carrying objectionable signs in the parade that expressed messages concerning a labor dispute (strike) then taking place.

We hope to be able to work with all facets of the community to continue to conduct a high quality entertainment event for families.