Abortion float freaks out
city's Halloween parade

While Halloween thrives on images of the gruesome and macabre, apparently abortion is over the edge for a Pennsylvania town which is considering axing its traditional holiday parade due to an abortion-related float.

Abortion protesters march in 2003 Halloween parade in York, Pa.

At issue is "Dr. Butcher's Chop Shop of Choice Cuts," a float featuring fake bloody fetuses and mutilated body parts, sponsored by Rev. Jim Grove of the Heritage Baptist Church in Loganville, Pa.

Some 30,000 people attend the Halloween parade in the city of York, but appearances in recent years by Grove and fellow pro-lifers have caused controversy due to their display of giant photographs of aborted children.

"I am dealing with York because that is where the abortion clinic is – where the murder mill is," Grove told the York Daily Record.

In 2002, Grove and his supporters had their signs confiscated and charges of harassment and disorderly conduct were filed.

Pro-life activist Beverly Murch participated in the event, writing on her website, "When [police] were reminded that the church had done this every year for the previous four years, the sergeant replied, 'We tolerated this in this past, but these pictures personally offend me.'"

The protesters subsequently went to court and were acquitted, winning the right to exercise their First Amendment free-speech rights in a city-sponsored event.

The court victory prompted the city to seek out a private sponsor of the annual event, one that could exclude certain parties.

Mayor John Brenner thought he had success when on July 5, the York Jaycees agreed to sponsor the parade.

A press release from Lisa Benson, president of the Jaycees, stated, "The purpose of assuming responsibility for this event would be to enable it to continue, keeping it family-oriented and fun for the children of the community. The Jaycees made it clear that they have no religious or political stance or affiliation. As of now, they see no reason to keep anyone from participating in the parade, as long as the rules and regulations are adhered to."

But the group this week reversed itself and decided not to have anything to do with the parade, saying the decision was made "after consulting with legal counsel and various other sources."

"After much discussion and deliberation, it has been decided that it is not in the best interest of the chapter to move forward with taking on the event. The potential liabilities and legal ramifications are just too great for our chapter to endure," Benson wrote in an e-mail, according to the Record.

"I thought it was a perfect marriage, but apparently their legal advisor had some other opinion," Mayor Brenner told the York Dispatch. "... It doesn't make any sense to us over here at the city."

With less than three months to go, the Halloween parade, which many in York feel is an institution, remains in doubt unless a private organization comes forward to host it.

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