LWVGE Statement Regarding Exclusion from 2025 Fourth of July Parade

6/9/25-The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn (LWVGE) is deeply troubled by the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July Parade Committee’s decision to deny our organization entry into this year’s community parade.

LWVGE has proudly participated in Glen Ellyn’s Fourth of July Parade for decades. As always, we applied to join the 2025 parade following the standard process and requested—consistent with our long-standing practice—to be placed separately from political candidates or party-affiliated groups. This request reflects our nonpartisan status and our commitment to maintaining neutrality in a highly polarized environment.

To our shock, the Parade Committee denied our application this year, citing an unsubstantiated claim that several volunteers “felt harassed” during the 2024 parade and that unidentified League members displayed inappropriate behavior in making the change of parade placement request to Parade officials. It is noteworthy that the Parade Committee did not share these allegations with LWVGE at the time of the Parade nor did it do so at any point between the 2024 Parade and the denial of the League’s 2025 Parade application nearly eleven months later.

On receipt of the Parade Committee's decision, the League immediately responded with due diligence, reaching out to League members who marched in the 2024 Fourth of July Parade asking if they had witnessed any behavior that appeared harassing or inappropriate. Fifteen League members responded, and all 15 denied observing any such conflict or controversy.

Despite multiple inquiries for additional information, the Parade Committee has refused to identify any of the individuals involved or provide any documentation about the alleged incident. This lack of transparency and accountability is especially troubling given that it has resulted in the exclusion of a respected, nonpartisan civic organization from one of the community’s hallmark public events.

“We are profoundly disturbed by this decision—not only because it is unjust and opaque, but because it represents a growing and troubling trend across the country: the marginalization of nonpartisan civic voices and the chilling of constitutionally protected expression.

The League of Women Voters is a century-old organization dedicated to encouraging informed participation in government. We do not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Our presence in civic events like Glen Ellyn’s Fourth of July Parade is a celebration of democratic values, not a political statement. Excluding the League from a public, taxpayer-supported event amounts to viewpoint discrimination—and infringes on our First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn remains committed to empowering voters, defending democracy, and fostering respectful civic dialogue. We will continue to serve our community with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to democratic principles.

We call on the Parade Committee to reconsider its decision and to ensure a fair and open process for community participation—one that reflects the very freedoms the Fourth of July is meant to celebrate.”

For questions or further information, please contact:

Lynn Bruno, Co-President, League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn Email: lwvgecpBruno@gmail.com

Heather Fleming, Co-President, League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn Email: lwvgecpFleming@gmail.com