This was is Harford County Maryland

Censorship at the Bel Air Fourth of July Parade
The theme of the parade was "Patriots Then and Now". A quick review of our history will recall that, in the years prior to 1776, England had instituted repressive taxes against the colonists to pay for their ongoing war with France. In response, the colonists protested by throwing Tea Parties -- not only in Boston, but also in Cecil County and Annapolis. The protests eventually led to our independence being declared on July 4, 1776, the event which we were celebrating in the Bel Air parade. That was Patriots Then.

Patriots Now are fed up with government's overspending, with paying taxes to bail out institutions, with government endangering our children's and grandchildren's future by monstrous debt. In response they are emulating their forefathers' example. They are holding Tea Parties -- in Boston, in Cecil County, in Annapolis, and all across the country. They are patriots determined to take our country back from the tyrants.

So, in the spirit of that theme, my parade signs read: "Delegate Impallaria says, Stop the Taxing," "Delegate Impallaria says, Stop the Spending," "Delegate Impallaria says, Support the Tea Parties," "Delegate Impallaria says, Support the Constitution," "Delegate Impallaria says, Happy Birthday, America."

We carried these signs in the Kingsville Parade earlier in the day. As we approached the reviewing stand, the parade marshall read out each and every one over the loudspeaker, and then thanked me for supporting the positions of their community. So these signs represented not only my views, but the views of the Kingsville spectators, who voiced their agreement during the parade.

At the Bel Air Parade, however, my supporters and I were attacked by Mr. Michael Blum, the parade marshall, for carrying signs which clearly expressed the theme of the parade -- Patriotism Then and Now.

If there truly had been objectionable material in anyone's signs, the proper place for removal would have been the staging area, before appearing in public. But Mr. Blum stopped us on the parade route, ripping the "Support the Tea Parties" sign off our lead motorcycle, then stripping signs away from children as young as eight years old. Fortunately, my one niece, who is a true patriot, hid her sign, and for the remaining route we were left with "Stop the Taxing."

As Mr. Blum and his cohort attacked the members of my group, the spectators were outraged at what they saw, and started booing Mr. Blum, calling him a "sign Nazi" and "a Communist", and yelling "This day is all about patariotism and free speech." It was obvious that the spectators were not offended by the signs, but were offended by Mr. Blum's censoring of them.

Then, like true Nazis or Communists, they not only prevented my free speech, they attempted to confiscate my private property by refusing to return the signs. I was not about to stand for this. I repeatedly demanded they place the signs in my vehicle, and they repeatedly refused. All this was taking place in public, which was an embarassment to me, my family, and my supporters. When the van driver, my brother, got out and joined me, they realized that, in the famous words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "We shall not be moved," and the parade would be held up even further, they finally returned the signs.

As one blogger put it, "he is sick and tired of *&%^ politicians walking in the parades." I 100% agree with him, and that is exactly why we carried those signs. I believe it is the right of the people to know exactly what their elected officials stand for. If they do not support what I stand for, it is their option to boo or ridicule me. If they do, they have the right to support me for my representation of them.

Mr. Michael Blum's actions are a total disgrace. He owes a public apology to every true American who believes in freedom of speech. He should also attend classes on the Constitution given by the Institute on the Constitution which are held at Boyle Buick. Or, he should just openly admit to his fascist/community beliefs which he so clearly demonstrated at the Bel Air Parade.

As for my family, my supporters and myself, we stand 100% behind the positions we have taken, and we proudly say that we will continue to support the patriots of the past by doing all we can to be patriots of the present.

Rick Impallaria
Delegate, District 7
rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us

unreal

<soapbox>
I was at the Tea Party earlier in the day, but was not around during the parade...thank goodness, because I would have done something stupid, and ended up in the lockup. Mr. Blum should be thankful that the crowd didn't start a riot. Blum's point (I read up on it) was that parade rules prohibited the display of "political" signs like "Vote for Joe", or that sort of thing. The guy who wrote the earlier letter did sign a document that said he wouldn't do what he did, so he ain't exacly clean here either, BUT, since government money was used for the parade (police presence, cleanup crews, etc.) the parade rules cannot supercede constitutional right to free speech according to Pat McDonough, who happens to be another guy who was accosted by Blum's thugs. Go here to read his comments. Antics like Blum's will backfire and cost him dearly. The decent, God fearing people of Harford County have had enough and we're not gonna take it anymore. PM me if you want to know some local groups who want to take our country back from the thieves and put our Constitution back as the law of the land.
</soapbox>

I have been doing some reading and agree with everything that you said... BUT there are politics in the parade EVERY YEAR i have gone. Now they decide to enforce the rule? Still Censorship in my book. I am embaressed to say that I knw nothing about Blume. I think it is time to get involved.

I knew nothing about Blum either until yesterday. He's just a small business owner in Bel Air. Graphic arts stuff. So if you know anyone that might hire a company to do that sort of thing, be sure to tell them about this guy before they do any business with him. It's time to stop this kind of stomping all over our constitution. It might already be too late.

where's the B.S. flag? i guess this blum fellow likes having the government running rough-shod over the people. he's lucky he didn't try those antics in some other venue, he might have gotten a real stompin'