Precedent for Minuteman exclusion

The Patriots Day Parade Assn. has a right to refuse entry to any group that they want.

A precedent was set in 1968 when the association refused to admit a float sponsored by the Peace and Freedom Center of Orange County for the same reasons given to James Gilchrist of the Minuteman Project -- namely that the Peace and Freedom Center was politically controversial.

At that time there were many differing strong opinions about U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, and the antiwar movement was considered politically controversial.

The persons involved then sued the association for the right to appear in the parade. In a hearing at Orange County court in Santa Ana, the judge ruled that the association had the right to refuse entry to any group that was not consistent with the Patriots Day Parade Assn.’s goals.

The Minutemen are certainly politically controversial, as many citizens of Laguna Beach do not agree with their methods and deplore the chaos they are creating in the canyon.

Their inclusion would certainly create disharmony in what has been a Laguna Beach event that has included our children and adults in a special community demonstration of unity and fun for many years.

* Ruth Stafford is a Laguna Beach resident.