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3w ago

North East, Maryland, Plans Parade Rule Overhaul After Confederate Flags at Christmas Parade

Town leaders say a policy gap let the entries through, with stricter screening planned before future events.

Members of the Mason Dixon Guards from Delaware and the Harve de Grace chapter of Sons of Confederate Veterans included Confederate flags for their respective floats at the Dec. 6 Cecil County Christmas Parade, sparking backlash from the Maryland Democratic Party and local groups. (Courtesy of Cecil Solidarity)
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Members of the Mason Dixon Guards from Delaware and the Harve de Grace chapter of Sons of Confederate Veterans included Confederate flags for their respective floats at the Dec. 6 Cecil County Christmas Parade, sparking backlash from the Maryland Democratic Party and local groups. (Courtesy of Cecil Solidarity)
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Overview

  • Mayor Kelly Benson said current policies did not provide grounds to deny the entry and pledged changes to ensure future participants reflect community values.
  • Parade rules did not ban Confederate imagery but did prohibit distributing items, which photos show participants handed out along the route.
  • Participants included Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 2013 of Havre de Grace and Mason-Dixon Guards Camp 2183 of Kent County, Delaware.
  • Maryland Democratic Party Chair Steuart Pittman called the display inexcusable, while Cecil Solidarity sought a public acknowledgment, a rules review, and screening to bar racist symbols.
  • The Mason-Dixon Guards directed reporters to the SCV website asserting the group disavows bigotry, and Cub Scout Pack 143 apologized after an image showed a child with a flag at his feet.