Prolife students banned from parade participation

The "Celebrate Life" banner was brushed off and ready to go, the "Life is a Bowl of Cherries" T-shirts were printed and the prolife students were organized for the Junior Royale Parade. This year, however, involvement would be different. The students would not be marching down Front Street in downtown Traverse City in the Junior Royale Parade, but would be forced to the sidewalk. Parade officials rejected the Grand Traverse Area Students for Life application, an application which has been accepted in the past.

The decision, which could have left the kids in the pits, was only a momentary set-back for the Grand Traverse Area Students for Life group. For eight years, the students have peacefully, with a spirit of celebration, participated in the National Cherry Festival Junior Royale Parade, one of three parades during the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. But this year would be different.

The students were both shocked and disappointed. Shortly after the decision was handed down regarding the rejection, Grand Traverse Area Students for Life President Kevin Stinnet said, "Although we are disappointed, we will still send a prolife message during the parade by sitting on the sidelines with our prolife T-shirts."

Although the students couldn't participate in the parade, they still felt it was extremely important to be a witness for life at the Cherry Festival. The prolife students sat together as a group, holding their "Celebrate Life" banner and wearing their "Celebrate Life" shirts with "Life is a Bowl of Cherries" written on the back-side. The young people watched the parade from the sidelines. They strategically sat in front of the Fifth Third Bank sharing their message of respect for life. The students also sold "Choose Life" bottled water — proclaiming the prolife message to as many people as possible.

Undoubtedly, parade officials never guessed such a hoopla would be made regarding this decision. Shock and disappointment only motivated the prolife students giving them a much greater audience than those attending the Junior Royale Parade.

"Too controversial" was the reason given for the rejection of the prolife students group for marching in this year's Junior Royale Parade.

The news spread like the sale of fresh-baked cherry pies. Television, radio and print media contacted both the Grand Traverse Area Students for Life group and the Grand Traverse Area Right to Life group. The decision by the Cherry Festival parade officials came as a surprise. For 8 years the young people have participated in the Junior Royale – a parade to highlight cherries, children and the community. Last year, approximately 70 prolife young people participated in the parade to celebrate their community and life. The student group has marched under the banner of "Celebrate Life" and has worn T-shirts depicting only that message since the beginning of their involvement in the parade.

Stinnet said, "We have chosen our messages with care and have always focused on the positive message of celebrating life."

The prolife students have never used the word "abortion" nor any pictures. Being cognizant of the purpose of the parade and the desire not to offend or be political, the students with consideration and enthusiasm participated in past parades.

Parade organizers were tight-lipped about what groups were denied the opportunity to march. Tom Kern, the National Cherry Festival's executive director, said the decision was made by a committee of volunteers.

The National Cherry Festival boasts attendance of more than 500,000 over eight days. The Festival was founded in 1926 and its mission is to promote the cherry industry, promote tourism and community involvement, and to cultivate the business, entertainment, and cultural interests of the Grand Traverse region.

For the Grand Traverse Area Students for Life group the fun has just begun. The students are working with the Grand Traverse Area Right to Life group to collect signatures of people who would like to see the prolife group admitted to the parade in future years. For those who would like to sign a petition, please contact the Grand Traverse Area Right to Life office via e-mail at gtrtl@northlink.net or call (231) 946-9469.

The National Cherry Festival will be evaluating the festival after Labor Day. Those who would like to encourage the National Cherry Festival to include the Grand Traverse Area Students for Life group in the Junior Royale Parade can contact National Cherry Festival Executive Director Tom Kern at 109 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684. Or e-mail Mr. Kern at info@cherryfestival.org.

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