The Glen Ellyn League of Women Voters say their application was denied for the 2025 parade due to an "unsubstantiated" claim.
Patch Staff
Posted Tue, Jun 10, 2025 at 8:58 am CT|
GLEN ELLYN, IL — After "decades" of marching in the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July Parade, the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn (LWVGE) say they are "profoundly disturbed" after their application for the 2025 parade was denied. In a news release, the LWVGE said parade officials denied the application on the grounds of a claim that they believe is "unsubstantiated."
"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 news release said.
According to LWVGE, the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July Parade Committee told them volunteers from the 2024 parade had "felt harassed" by the group when they requested a change to their placement in the parade.
LWVGE writes, "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."
According to LWVGE, they reached out to members to see if "they had witnessed any behavior that appeared harassing or inappropriate" during the 2024 parade.
Find out what's happening in Downers Grovefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Fifteen League members responded, and all 15 denied observing any such conflict or controversy," the news release said.
LWVGE asserts they've submitted "multiple inquiries" to the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July Parade Committee for more information, but "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," the news release said.
It continued, "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 LWVGE then urged the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July 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."
The Glen Ellyn Fourth of July Parade Committee did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment Tuesday morning. Patch also submitted a FOIA request Tuesday morning seeking documentation to support the parade committee's reason for denying the application.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.