Officials asking Boston to review permit process after 'Straight Pride Parade'

BOSTON — A lot of Bostonians are still upset about last weekend's 'Straight Pride Parade,' especially when it comes to the use of city resources.

Boston City Council's president is now calling on the city to review its permit process, writing, "especially with respect to organizations that are pretending to march under the guise of free speech, but instead marching to promote hate and thus incite violence."

When you talk to people around the city, they are very passionate about this issue. Should freedom of speech allow anyone to come march in Boston parading about whatever they want, no matter how much it costs?

Last weekend's 'Straight Pride Parade,' didn’t just spark a debate about gay rights, but also permit rights.

"It's one thing if they're really proud about whatever, but it's more that they hate the other side of the coin, which is the wrong reason to be doing it," said Brett Gilbert of Boston. "And that's how I see it, but at the same time they should let them do it and, I think, just because freedom of speech."

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But the fear of losing a court battle on free speech doesn't scare everyone.

Some city council members are now asking the city to look at the permit process on a case-by-case basis to see if the organization asking for a parade should even be allowed.

The parade cost tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Police sources say many officers were forced to work a lot of overtime hours as a precaution for the event, some even having to cancel their Labor Day vacations.

"We're putting [in] resources, so how does it benefit the community, is it something that includes everyone or does it separate us more?" said Pauline Adams of Boston.

This is a very complex issue and the fear for many is that, going into the 2020 election, there will be more similar parades.

Cox Media Group