The Alpharetta City Council voted Monday to cease all public funding for their annual Old Soldiers Day Parade. The 67-year-old parade held every year in Alpharetta to honor Civil War veterans, came under fire in 2017 when residents began to complain to the city about the use of the Confederate flag in the parade.
Last year, the city ruled that parade participants would not be allowed to fly the Confederate flag. Well, the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization didn't take too kindly to this ruling.
In fact, in August the group sued the city of Alpharetta, citing a violation of their First Amendment Rights, however, a federal judge ruled in favor of the city stating that the Confederate Flag was not to be flown at the parade.
Even though participants couldn't fly the flag in the parade, a small group of parade attendees still waved the flag from the sidelines. Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin agreed that it was best that the city pulled out of what has now become a controversial event.
“Sadly, a wonderful event that brings the people of Alpharetta together to celebrate United States veterans has become a platform for outside groups to champion their own personal agendas," Gilvin told MSN.com. "So, under these circumstances it is no longer appropriate for the city to use taxpayer money to fund such an event.”
"While we sincerely hope private organizations will continue to host the parade, recent lawsuits affiliated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans have caused additional financial burdens to Alpharetta taxpayers while creating unwelcome distractions which defeat the whole purpose of public support for an event intended to unite our community in celebrating the heroes who make this great nation possible."
While the future of the Old Soldiers Day Parade is still up in the air, the Sons of Confederate Veterans are not giving up their fight. Tim Pilgrim, Georgia division commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans said they will continue to fight the city in court and hope to fly the battle flag at next year's parade.
Read more on this story here: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/confederate-flag-suit-leads-alpharetta-pull-out-hosting-parade/jEqLTj4SdW14tr591hewYI/