Following the controversial vote to ban the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from the Memorial Day Parade in Muskegon before reversing the decision, the committee behind the event has announced it is dissolving.
The decision by the Greater Muskegon Memorial Day Committee to prohibit the local branch of the NAACP from walking in this year’s parade surprised several city officials, primarily from the group itself, an organization that has been part of the Memorial Day Parade as long as President and City Commissioner Eric Hood says he can remember.
“We have been around since 1909, 1919 in the City of Muskegon, so I couldn’t understand that,” Hood said.
The Memorial Day Committee had voted to ban any organization with political ties including Right to Life, Planned Parenthood, and the National Rifle Association from marching as well. Hood says the difference is that the NAACP is not affiliated with Republicans or Democrats.
“We are non-partisan.”
Meanwhile, the national branch of the NAACP, sent a letter to the committee warning them that the group’s civil rights would be violated if the board did not reinstate the organization into the parade.
Committee Chair Steve Allen told WGVU the committee never intended to offend anyone.
“I don’t know, I am at a loss for words about the whole thing,” he said.
After pressure as well from Muskegon Mayor Ken Johnson to reverse the decision, the committee agreed to let the NACCP back in, however, the committee followed up with a letter informing City Hall that the group was calling it quits after 25 years of organizing the parade.
It is unclear if the city plans on hosting another Memorial Day Parade next year or not.
