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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Stopping abusive behavior at St.Patrick's Parades can be done -- New York and Chicago parades point the way forward

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Stopping abusive behavior at St.Patrick's Parades can be done -- New York and Chicago parades point the way forward

Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:20 AM

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Drinking and the St.Patrick's Day parade go hand in hand, whether we like to acknowledge that or not.

In the past few days, the Hoboken parade, one of the largest in New Jersey, has been canceled while the South Side St.Patrick's Parade in Chicago is being held again after an absence of a couple of years

In both parades, the abuse of alcohol was a major issue.

However, how that alcohol use is managed and controlled by both parade organizers and law enforcement is critical.

Clearly, the Hoboken parade and its aftermath had grown out of control. There were 34 lawless incidents and two alleged rapes last year. That is simply not good enough.

Hoboken suffered from its proximity to Manhattan as thousands of revellers took the opportunity to cross the river and have their first spring break.
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I remember seeing some of them in Penn Station after a day there, very much the worse for wear.

However, Mayor Dawn Zimmer has hardly helped the situation by making a farcical offer to hold the parade on a Wednesday evening before St.Patrick's Day.

The parade committee rightly turned that ridiculous offer down.

There is a solution and New York's St.Patricks Day parade shows the way forward.

A few years back they had similar problems along the parade route and afterwards.

They installed a ruthless system that punished any violator and worked with the police department to greatly beef up security.

It has proven successful and the parade nowadays is an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Judging by the South Side of Chicago organizer's comments they intend doing the same.

That's is how it should be, the parade organizers and local police working hand in glove to ensure there is space and opportunity for everyone to enjoy.

Instead of adopting such an approach, Hoboken's mayor made an ill-judged call.

I hope in the future we see Hoboken's parade restored to its rightful place. Using Chicago and New York, as examples that could surely be accomplished.

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Scrivner | Jan 17, 2012, 03:12 PM EST

Mr Dillon, Do the Irish where red and get rowdy on St Joseph's day (for the Poles)? or, disrupt the parades in midAugust (Pakistani Independence Day)? ll for the sake of a good time!

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GeorgeDillon | Jan 16, 2012, 09:46 AM EST

pmulvihill: "a vast number of the "celebrants" aren't Irish or of Irish descent." Ok, that's the case in Dublin, where the parade is dominated by Poles and Paks, but in rural parts of Ireland you can still find parades that are predominantly Irish.

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faberm1 | Jan 16, 2012, 08:24 AM EST

I stopped playing my bagpipes in St. Patrick parades years ago after a drunk in Galveston, Texas poured beer down the drones of my bagpipes and another threw beer on my band. My pipes are worth about $3500 and my kilt etc is worth about $1500. I don't need to participate. I'll have a quiet party in my home with students from my Irish language class. I'll leave the parades to the "non-Irish" who just look for another day to get smashed in public and wear green.

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IrelandNorth | Jan 16, 2012, 05:57 AM EST

"Ego Patricius, peccator rusticissimus et minimus omnium fidelium et contemptibilius sum aqud plurimus.../My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the lease of all believers. I am looked down upon by many... Inscription on statue in Westport, Co. Mayo. Town closest to Croag Patrick - Ireland's holy mountain.

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pmulvihill | Jan 16, 2012, 01:33 AM EST

And keep in mind, a vast number of the "celebrants" aren't Irish or of Irish descent.

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Gearoid4 | Jan 15, 2012, 08:51 PM EST

St Patrick's day should be restored to it's rightful place as an enjoyable family day out minus the usual quota of people getting out of their heads on alcohol to mar the occasion. One should be able to enjoy the day celebrating the contribution of the national Irish Saint without disturbing the peace.

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eiriamach | Jan 15, 2012, 05:45 PM EST

Well, maybe... but maybe the habit of getting stinking drunk, lollygagging around town, and getting arrested is just too deeply ingrained in some Hoboken residents. Mayor Zimmer's letter to the parade committee invited them to do something besides marching in March: "If you are unable to continue the parade, I hope that you and committee members will consider working with my Administration as we plan a series of events to celebrate Irish culture and heritage in mid-March." When the parade committee turned down the offer of a Wednesday parade, did they agree to help plan the city's Irish heritage events? Cultural celebrations bring visitors into cities.

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dipsydolly | Jan 15, 2012, 05:25 PM EST

why are you all afraid of a few drunks? americans are so wierd, had an american in my taxi in dublin one night, a woman, and she actually asked me why there were so many prostitutes in her hotel and on the streets, she was referring to our general female population who like to dress up in high heels and short skirts and go out to have fun same as anywhere she was genuinly afraid, once i got over the shock of her ignorance i roared laughing and pointed out her own attire, (a martha stewart thing going on)and reminded her that the stepford wife was a horror film, and she resembled a psycotic murderer. but i feel sorry for the silly old rat bag, and couldnt help wonder what kind of repression these twinset n pearl type women suffer from, very sad for modern america

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Mairin67 | Jan 15, 2012, 04:13 PM EST

The South Side Chicago parade route just happened to go by two popular southside Irish pubs....

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joan1954 | Jan 15, 2012, 12:06 PM EST

By "City" I refer to its political rather than public side. The public supports it not the city politicos.

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joan1954 | Jan 15, 2012, 12:05 PM EST

san Antonio, Texas has cancelled its 2012 street parade not for these reasons but for finances. It is one of only two parades that the City of San Antonio will not support The parade organizers here pay for everything and they just don't have the finances. The unions don't support it nor the business community. The military does as does the other Irish and non-profit community and school groups at least those that want to show up because it falls in spring break. There will still be a river parade, Alamo ceremonies and an evening Irish fest that will feature all Irish food, music, dance and will be family friendly.

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PhlutiePhan | Jan 15, 2012, 11:20 AM EST

Obviously, the Chicago Parade organizers should make Bill Daley the Grand Marshall to make a statement against the Obama Machine in its quest to overthrow the Irish Catholic political leadership.

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bonjouryall | Jan 15, 2012, 11:06 AM EST

I have no idea where the bars are in relation to the parade routes in these cities. But in Lafayette, La., for Festival internationale,the festival covers most of downtown. The bars and clubs still sell but the beer trucks were placed on the periphery of the festival area. This seems to help. Another festival known for its drunkenness has the trucks in closer proximity.

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tundish45 | Jan 15, 2012, 10:47 AM EST

I recall the early years of the Chicago South Side parade being a family event. A few school bands followed by associations strolling in groups. In later years more elaborations with politicians and floats and the drinkers spilling out of taverns. The new design reemphasizes a return to family friendly events and a lot less of the glitzy elaborations.

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