The Mummers Parade: the controversy and its future

Guests: Helen “Nellie” Fitzpatrick, Ian Morrison, George Badey, Mary Catherine Roper

This year’s Mummers Parade offended a lot of people.  Among the New Year’s Day revelry and elaborate costumes were brigades that mocked Caitlyn Jenner, the Black Lives Matter movement and Latinos with Mummers in brownface and sombreros. Mayor Kenney, a former Mummer, condemned the displays and vowed to change things for next year. But can the parade truly ever be inclusive? This hour we talk about the controversy around the parade, issues of freedom of speech, and political correctness.  Marty’s guests are IAN MORRISON, founder of the Miss Fancy Brigade, HELEN “NELLIE” FITZPATRICK, director of LGBT affairs for the City of Philadelphia, GEORGE BADEY, pro bono lawyer and spokesman for the Mummers, and MARY CATHERINE ROPER, deputy legal director for the ACLU Pennsylvania.