The annual Fourth of July parade in Whitemarsh Township has been canceled by township officials this year due to terrorism concerns, writes Victor Fiorillo for the Philadelphia Magazine.
The decision was announced following the Whitemarsh Township board of supervisors meeting last week.
“We are cancelling our annual 4th of July parade. We came to this point after hearing from Township staff, our Police Department and our Emergency Management Office,” they stated. “In light of recent events, they had conducted a thorough review of safety at the parade, including vehicle control, and concluded that holding the event presented an unnecessary risk to the community.”
The cancellation has sparked outrage among residents, with many accusing Whitemarsh Township officials of poor communication about their decision. A petition has already been started to save the parade, which is gaining traction among local supporters.
Whitemarsh Township police chief Christopher Ward issued a statement over the weekend about the decision, stating that officials conducted extensive research on what would be required to ensure safety during the parade and how much it would cost, finding that the required security measures were beyond Whitemarsh Township’s reach.
Read more about what went behind Whitemarsh Township’s decision to cancel the Fourth of July parade in the Philadelphia Magazine.
