A canceled Philadelphia parade revived as a ‘protest’

Earlier in 2019, at least two members of one of the brigades marched while wearing blackface, and racist skits and imagery have been commonplace throughout the parade’s history. In January 2020, Kenney threatened to cancel the parade if change did not take place.

New York Times

January 01, 2021 / 22:42 IST

Source: Reuters

Philadelphia’s elaborate 120-year-old New Year’s celebration known as the Mummers Parade will take a more rebellious form in 2021. Friday’s event was branded as a “peaceful protest” against the city’s mayor, Jim Kenney, who canceled the traditional parade because of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 11,000 people have said on Facebook that they will attend the scaled-down event, which will not be televised. Usually, hundreds of thousands line the parade route, watching an array of groups in often-outlandish costumes march through the city.

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City officials did not issue any permits and said they hoped that protesters would avoid unsafe behavior.

This is not the first time the city’s traditional celebration has been enveloped in controversy. In 2019, at least two members of one of the brigades marched while wearing blackface, and racist skits and imagery have been commonplace throughout the parade’s history. In January 2020, Kenney threatened to cancel the parade if change did not take place.

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