West Virginia Mayor Who Took ‘Christmas’ Out of the City’s Parade Name Reverses Gears Due to ‘Hurtful’ Backlash

On Monday, the mayor of West Virginia’s capital city announced the new name for the town’s Christmas parade.

You ready? The “Charleston Winter Parade.”

Why in the world would you have a parade to celebrate winter?

It’s cold. It’s wet. It’s so bad, a buncha animals try to sleep through the whole thing.

Nonetheless, that was the new moniker, in an attempt to high-five inclusivity.

In a video posted to Facebook, Mayor Amy Goodwin trumpeted the city being “an inclusive community.”

“We want everyone to participate in this parade,” she explained.

I ask again: Why would anyone want to participate in a parade celebrating winter?

Well, her woke new move went cold.

People were hot over the change, and they made it known.

Leaders of several churches condemned the re-titling and vowed not to attend. Even Republican State Senate President Mitch Carmichael chimed in, with this:

“We are calling on Mayor Goodwin and her liberal allies to end this madness and allow our citizens to freely and fully exercise their Freedom of Religion with a CHRISTMAS PARADE.”

The backlash was so severe, to Amy, it was downright hurtful.

She made said pain clear in another Facebook entry Thursday, while also stating the parade will in fact be returned to its former Good Tidings of Great Joy glory:

I truly appreciate all the calls, emails and feedback we have received regarding the Charleston parade. However, the kind of vitriol that has come forth since announcing the change in the name of the parade has been truly disappointing and hurtful. But I do respect those individuals’ freedom to deliver that message to my doorstep.

After much consideration and conversation with religious leaders from all faiths and community members, we have decided to keep the name, “Charleston Christmas Parade.” We understand the history and tradition of the parade and we want to continue that for years to come.
These citizens interactions are the lynchpin of any good government and will remain front and center in this Administration.

We continue to be excited for the new changes that will take place this year. Our restaurants and downtown businesses owners are truly excited!
To be sure, this city needs everyone included. We need to be kind. We need to work together, and this administration will continue to work every day for a more inclusive community where everyone is welcome to celebrate and come together.

I’ll see you on December 12th!
Peace.

In a statement by GOP senators, Mitch pointed out that, for many, the parade’s about something very different than just history. And that true “inclusion” includes Christmas:

“As we stated yesterday, Christmas celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is a central holiday for thousands of Christians in our Capitol City and throughout West Virginia. I am thankful Mayor Goodwin listened to her constituents and decided to cancel her plans to rename the parade.

“This was about more than just a parade name. We must allow for the free expression of religion in our nation and our state. People of all faiths, Christian, Judaism, Islam and all other faiths, should never feel as though the government is prohibiting their ability to worship and celebrate their religion. That is what inclusion looks like and that is what West Virginia should look like.”

-ALEX

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