February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Harry Keaney
Seven members of the Lavender and Green Alliance were arrested on Sunday last when they attempted to march under their own banner in a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
They were taken to the 71st Precinct, charged with parading without a permit, and are to appear in court on April 26.
According to Lavender and Green Alliance founder Brendan Fay, the group has been trying to march in this parade since 1994.
Fay said that, at the start of the parade, the group’s banner was inspected by a parade official. He admitted that group members were told they could march as individuals in the parade.
"We could march as individuals but not with our banner, but no other group is treated that way," Fay said.
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He added that after the arrests, about 20 Lavender and Green Alliance members and their supporters marched the entire route of the parade.
Prior to the parade, about five members of Lavender and Green Alliance attended Mass in Holy Name Church celebrated by Bishop Daley of Brooklyn. They also attended a pre-parade breakfast hosted by Assemblyman Jim Brennan.