This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Salt Lake City Council was told it is "a bridge too far" for a governmental body to try to influence a private event: Days of '47 Parade.
A private event? That is ludicrous. How can this be considered a private event when the whole state, including the government, is involved and considers it a holiday.
All Utah state government offices are closed on the 24th of July. Utah courts are closed. Need to get your driver's license renewed? Not on the 24th of July.
Who participates in the Days of '47 Parade? Utah Highway Patrol units, county and city police and fire departments, and police units mounted on horses and motorcycles. State, county and city politicians ride on floats or in cars. For the ACLU and the Days of '47 to consider this a private event is an insult to all the taxpayers whose taxes go into the success of all of the festivities.
It is a travesty to cherrypick which groups to allow and which are not allowed by using the First Amendment to protect biases of Days of '47 Parade organizers.
Harriet R. McDonald
Holladay