Anti-abortion float stirs controversy at 4th of July parade
Float allowed to participate in parade after brief hold up
–Members of the Abolitionist Society of San Luis Obispo met resistance Monday when they arrived with an anti-abortion-themed float at a 4th of July parade in Templeton.
According to Abolitionist Society of San Luis Obispo volunteer director Danny Ehinger, parade organizers attempted to block the float from entering the parade after finding the subject matter revolved around abortion, and featured posters of fetuses in the womb.
Ehinger said that the float was “Very patriotic, and purposely not-offensive or graphic.” Several parade attendees said the subject matter was inappropriate and offensive, “This divisive and negative display did nothing to encourage neighborliness, patriotism, cooperation, and general positive will,” says Kelly Reed Daulton of Templeton. Daulton says that the float was a violation of her rights as a parent to introduce sex education to her children at her discretion. “If we are to protect sex-ed in schools, we also need to protect it within any type of city or state sponsored event,” she said. “You are certainly allowed to voice your opinion, but the 4th of July parade is not an appropriate venue,” said Atascadero resident Jody Chase.
The parade was put on, as always, by the Templeton Kiwanis Club. The all-volunteer club says it tries to steer clear of political controversy. “They took advantage of Templeton and they committed fraud,” said parade organizer and Kiwanis Club member Bill Pelfrey. He said that Ehinger was purposely vague on his application, and that the Kiwanis Club had thought the subject matter revolved around the emancipation of slaves. He said that he called Ehinger the day before the parade and asked if the float was going to be about abortion and Ehinger said no.
On the application, Ehinger listed the description of the float as: 
The Abolitionist Society of San Luis Obispo County is happy to present our float, “Where the Spirit of God is There is Freedom ~ Let Freedom Ring!” Our hope is to create a juxtaposition between the freedom we hold in our ideal and the freedom that is still being withheld to so many around the world. With the flag of our country flying over an 8′ statue of Lady Liberty we see the ideal of American freedom we hold in our minds. At the base of the float we see those still in need of being liberated. With the Liberty Bell following and ringing out to call our nation out of its slumber and to attention. To wake the nation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Join us in the ongoing fight for freedom!
Ehinger said that he filled out the form with the necessary fields, but didn’t go further as to explaining the subject matter. “I put all the requested info on the form,” said Ehinger. There are 11 listed rules and guidelines on the parade entry form, and item six reads, “All political candidates are welcome, but no campaign signs or distribution of political material allowed along the parade route. A sign stating name of the office sought by the candidate will be allowed.”
The group was not denied until the morning of the parade, when the organizers saw what the float was displaying. Pelfrey said that the float was covered when they arrived, and the party was not carrying any signs. Once they removed the cover, the organizers tried to block the float from entering in the parade, and at that point sheriff’s deputies got involved.
Sheriff’s Commander Ken Conway responded to help mediate the dispute. There were no legal grounds for him to arrest the group or order them to leave, so he requested that the group dissemble and not participate, but pointed out that there was no clause in the parade’s rules or guidelines that allowed the right to refusal. “Commander Conway was able to get both sides to agree to allow the float in the parade as long as it was not graphic in nature or explicitly offensive,” said Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Tony Cipolla.
“They had the sheriff ask them to withdraw from the parade that morning and the anti-abortion organization people aggressively refused,” said Templeton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sarah Maggelet. “Rather than cancel the entire parade or risk an ugly or potentially violent scene, and absent of language in the application that specifically states that any entry can be removed for any reason at any time by Kiwanis Club, the sheriff’s hands were tied and unfortunately the group forced their way into the line up.”
Pelfrey said that the group forced their way into the lineup after being skipped by parade organizers, and when he saw that they joined the parade, he allowed them to continue rather than stopping the entire parade or causing a potentially violent scene. Pelfrey, who has been running the parade for almost three decades, said that this is the first of such incidents, “It’s the biggest mess in 28 years.”
Ehinger says that he and other volunteers wanted to take the opportunity to spread their message in a very public way, and had been looking at entering in the parade for many years. He pointed out that other political floats were allowed to attend, such as floats for specific candidates. He said the theme of the float was, “Where the spirit of god is there is freedom, let freedom ring.” “We put together a beautiful and powerful float exposing that American supposed freedom is responsible for allowing millions of unborn humans to be murdered,” he said.
The theme of the parade was, “Let Freedom Ring.” Abortion Abolitionists believe that unborn fetuses should be treated with the same freedom and rights as any other American, whereas those who disagree say that anti-abortion laws would limit freedoms and rights of women to decide what is best for them, their bodies and their situations. “Women faced with an unwanted, unplanned, or potentially dangerous pregnancy do not feel free,” said Daulton. “If we are to celebrate freedom in this parade, we ought to celebrate giving women the right to choose what happens to their bodies.”
The club will be meeting at 12 p.m. on Friday in Templeton at McPhee’s Restaurant to discuss drafting up new, clearer rules and guidelines for the parade.
