Peace Parade 2013

Shortly after today’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Peace Parade followed the same route. Particpants started marching at 3 p.m. from Broadway T stop to Andrew Sqaure.

David Carlson of Brighton, a US army veteran from 1971-1977 said, “It is obvious to me that we are no longer defending our country but that we are now the aggressors and it’s time to make a change,” as he marched in the Veterans for Peace march.

A band led the Veterans for Peace march.

Musicians were part of some groups who walked the parade.

Divisions in the Peace Parade included: veterans groups, LGBT groups, peace groups, faith groups, environmental groups, social and economic justice groups, labor groups, and political groups.

Veterans for Peace, who organize the Peace Parade, have attempted to join the main St. Patrick’s Day festivities. However, they have been denied participation for the past three years. They say the Allied War Veterans Council, who organize the first event, denied their application because the contradiction of including “peace” in a veteran’s celebration.

Although much of the attending crowd scattered after the St. Patrick’s Day parade, participants in the Peace Parade smiled and waved to those who remained.

On the Peace Parade website, organizers write that the event aims to provide an “inclusive and welcoming” environment.

Many participants in the Peace Parade traveled the 3.8-mile route on foot with homemade signs.

Some participnats crafted their own outfits to go with their cause.

One marcher on stilts caught some double-takes from onlookers.

The organizers of the Peace Parade invited the LGBT community to join their event after they were also denied participation in the main St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The Peace Parade was a melting pot of people promoting political and social stances alike.

Participants of all ages were welcome.

Towards the end of the Peace Parade in Andrew Square, some marchers held a banner reading, “Never Forget Newtown.”

Some parade marchers handed out fliers and business cards related to their groups.