Public Meeting Set On Whitemarsh 4th Of July Parade Cancellation

WHITEMARSH TOWNSHIP, PA — A special meeting will be held this week to address Whitemarsh Township's controversial decision to cancel this year's 4th of July parade over safety concerns.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, May 22 at Colonial Elementary School. It comes in response to the uproar from the public and some community groups following the cancellation announcement, which brings to an end a decades-long tradition down Germantown Pike and through the heart of Lafayette Hill.

“Safety is, and always will be, our top priority. That is not a cliché here in Whitemarsh. We say it and we mean it,” Supervisor Chair Jacy Toll said. “Trust me when I tell you that we appreciate the tradition of the parade. We hope parade fans will understand why we made this decision and find other ways to celebrate with family and friends on July 4th.”

Related: Whitemarsh Cancels 4th Of July Parade Over Safety Concerns

The Thursday meeting is hosted by the Board of Supervisors. It will include a presentation on parade safety, and there will be time for comments and questions, the township said.

Supervisors said they spoke extensively with police and the emergency management office in coming to their decision.

In their decision and further clarification on the cancellation by police, officials did not point to a specific threat that targeted the parade. Rather, they pointed to incidents that have occurred recently around the country, and the rising cost associated with ensuring similar celebrations are kept safe.

"Unfortunately, the society that we live in today has changed, and what people are willing to do today to risk the safety and security of our communities has increased to a point that we could have never imagined," police Chief Christopher Ward said, citing attacks that have befallen communities like Vancouver, New Orleans, and Highland Park, Illinois.

Residents can email questions ahead of the meeting Thursday to specialevents@whitemarshtwp.org.