Same old, same old Bristol Fourth of July Parade

Posted 1/22/16

Editor's note: Our editorials are the opinion of the newspaper and its publisher. As such they are always unsigned.  

The real possibility of a diminished parade, the welfare of parade participants, or even the compromised safety and …

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Same old, same old Bristol Fourth of July Parade

Posted

Editor's note: Our editorials are the opinion of the newspaper and its publisher. As such they are always unsigned.  

The real possibility of a diminished parade, the welfare of parade participants, or even the compromised safety and security of those attending the parade was not going to satisfy a swelling group of angry Bristol Fourth of July diehards last week. After initially, and wisely, deciding to shorten the annual Fourth of July parade from 2 1/2 miles to its former 2 mile length, the Bristol Fourth of July Committee relented to a public outcry and reversed its decision and will keep the parade at the longer distance.

Veteran parade Chairwoman Fran O’Donnell, responding to resistance from marching bands that have historically anchored Bristol’s prized parade, proposed eliminating the first 1/2 mile of the parade north of Washington Street to local officials. This would have returned to the parade to its pre-bicentennial length and its previous downtown Bristol nature. With the support of Bristol's Police and Fire Chiefs, as well as the Bristol Town Administrator, Ms. O’Donnell pitched the change to the Bristol Fourth of July Committee at an open committee meeting held on January 6. The committee voted 46 to 9 to shorten the parade, eliminating the first 1/2 mile on Hope Street – the section of the parade route that former Bristol Police Chief Rusty Serpa called a potential “death trap.”

The revolt against the Fourth committee and Ms. O’Donnell began swiftly and fiercely, enabled by unchecked emotion and social media. An outsider might have thought that the protesters were losing their very homes to this decision; “crazy,” “ludicrous,”  was the reaction of the those who signed a petition and joined the Facebook group “Save the Bristol 4th Parade Route.” The objectors legitimately complained about not having a voice in the parade decision, however, we believe the committee members, not an angry mob, are best suited and most informed to make decisions in the best interest of Bristol’s Fourth of July Celebration. In the end the committee relented in the face of an unreasonably passionate reaction, that allegedly included personal threats and harassment of some committee members. While the process should have been handled better by the committee's leadership, the conduct by the objectors was in some cases shameful. No volunteer, particularly those who are as committed and dedicated as the members of this committee, deserves to be attacked the way they were. We can certainly appreciate why most of these volunteers backed down on their initial, logical decision in the face of rabble rousing.

Kudos to Ms. O’Donnell for attempting to do the right thing and change the parade to a more manageable format for marchers, parade goers and our safety personnel. Her effort to maintain the historically high quality of the parade content for all those who enjoy attending was lost on those who faced losing their coveted viewing position. Only time will tell what the consequences of “keeping things the way they are” will be.

Bristol Fourth of July Committee, bristol fourth of july parade, Fran O'Donnell, parade route

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Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.