Before today, the group known as The Parading Atheists of Central PA was denied entry into the Millersville Community Parade, but after letters were sent by the group's administrators -- Ernest Perce and Carl Silverman -- to the parade's committee, the Millersville Parade Committee reconsidered their decision and permitted The Parading Atheists of Central PA to march in this year's parade.
After receiving a letter from the Millersville Parade Committee that granted the atheist group entry into the parade, Silverman sent a reply letter stating “Thank you. We hope you understand the importance of governmentally-sponsored parades not discriminating based on viewpoint, or based on religious perspective. We look forward to an ongoing friendly relationship with the organizers, even if a segment of the general public continues to openly detest atheists whether we march as humorous zombies in a Halloween season parade, or as some of us did in a more serious, patriotic manner, as part of another atheist organization at a Memorial Day parade elsewhere in Central Pennsylvania last May.”
[When Silverman and other atheists marched in a Memorial Day parade (as mentioned in his letter), spectators responded to utterances of “support your atheists in foxholes” with booing, mean words, and general disrespect to say the least.]
The Parading Atheists of Central PA's exclusion from the parade might be viewed as a 'smaller issue' by some – both atheists and non-atheists -- but the merit of this issue, Silverman and Perce note, seem to be quite clear in light of the facts surrounding the exclusion: religious groups were permitted to march in the parade and an atheist group was excluded, the parade was a community event sponsored by governmental entities (and thus governmental entities can not exclude on the basis of religious viewpoint), the parade's billing information said that all were welcome to march and the theme of the parade is to “revitalize the truth of our exceptional heritage to all American citizens and to restore and preserve our wonderful story and founding values and principles.”
Some may consider atheists to be offensive simply because they happen to be marching in parades, writing books, or sharing their ideas on the internet, but one has to look at the other side of the proverbial coin - some might also consider other groups to be offensive. In light of this quandary, and barring very special circumstances, the solution is for governmental entities to allow groups to march in parades even though some groups may happen to offend. This allows governmental entities to be neutral in matters of religion and ensure freedom of speech and assembly.
Community parades – especially parades with themes such as those of the Millersville Community Parade – should embrace diversity and free speech instead of not allowing atheist groups to march in parades while religious groups march.
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