After a week and a half or so of controversy, skateboarders are back in the Christmas parade.
Earlier this month, the City of Douglas released its rules for the annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. In the past, skateboarders have participated in the parade; their presence is organized by Trey Day, a lifelong skater and resident of Douglas. This year, however, the aforementioned list of rules prohibited skaters from the parade.
But that’s not all.
The city’s rules were very tersely worded, and it mentioned that neither skaters nor sex offenders were allowed in the parade. The two sentences were back-to-back, which led many people to believe that the city was equating skaters with sex offenders. While that wasn’t the case, the list should have never been released with that wording.
Day then made a post on Facebook about the city’s decision, which prompted Georgia Henderson, the city’s public information director, to reply with a long post. However, that did little to stop the controversy. Concrete Wave Magazine picked up on the story, which kept the matter in the public’s eye. In the end, a number of people called for a boycott of the parade.
Apparently, all the attention worked in favor of the skaters.
Tueaday, Day made another post on his Facebook page, stating that he and city officials met. He reported that the meeting was amicable and they were able to reach an agreement which allowed skaters back in the parade.
Likewise, Beercan Boards, a local company that makes aluminum skateboards, will supply gift certificates for skaters who participate in the parade. Beercan will also provide boards to skaters over the age of 30 who don’t have boards anymore.
So there you have it. Case closed. Matter resolved. And now there’s no need to boycott the parade.