Forward, March Diversity Fun Parade Shows Off Friendly Side Of Coeur D’Alene

This time last year, national media converged on North Idaho as marching Aryan Nations members met protests on Sherman Avenue.

But no news cameras rolled for Saturday morning’s Diversity Fun Parade downtown.

That was just fine with Gene O’Meara. The softspoken Irishman organized the parade to move away from controversy and media stereotypes.

O’Meara wants to show folks that this town’s image can change for the better.

“We’re trying to keep it positive,” he said after the parade. “It’s a heck of a lot better than what turned out last year.”

O’Meara got parade permits for this weekend to coincide with the annual World Aryan Congress in Hayden, when hundreds of white supremacists and members of other hate groups muster in North Idaho.

The people marching downtown this year are the real Americans, said flag-bearer Joe Hauser, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who watched buddies raise the flag at Iwo Jima.

“I think anybody that acts like a Nazi is un-American,” said Hauser, a retired miner. “I fought for this country. Anybody who lives in this country should be for this country.”

Signs carried Saturday got the message right, said Darleen Perata, watching from the sidewalk.

“WE ARE MORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT.”

“CELEBRATE DIVERSITY.”

“SILENCE IS ACCEPTANCE.”

Perata and her 9-year-old daughter, Antonia, came out to show pride in their Mexican heritage and in racial equality.

“We try and teach our kids that everybody’s equal,” said the 34-year-old Coeur d’Alene woman. “That’s important.”

The short parade started at 10 a.m. with the rumble of Harleys and the keening of bagpipes played by the Selkirk Celts. The motorcycles - veterans in front - served as parade escorts, together with cruisers from Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County.

The MLK WalKING’s Dream float bore the image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sirens wailed from Hayden Lake, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls firetrucks. City Councilman Dave Walker rode his yellow scooter down the route.

Several grass-roots human-rights groups marched behind a banner, including the newly formed Coalition for Social Justice in Kootenai County.

“I think this city is about as socially progressive as any community,” said Bridget Campbell, a former San Francisco resident.

A sparse but vocal crowd turned out to cheer on the marchers.

“Isn’t this so cool!” yelled Gina Brooks, a postal carrier taking a break from delivery rounds. “I was just so excited to hear this is about diversity.”

Maybe next year more people will turn out, several parade watchers said.

“They’re putting some fun into Coeur d’Alene against some of the bad publicity,” said Hayden summer resident Maurie Tweit. “This should add some good public relations.”

O’Meara hopes city officials take some hope - and some hints - from his lead.

“I hope they realize we can do things like this successfully,” he said.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

BACKGROUND

Diversity Fun Parade

Gene O’Meara got parade permits for this weekend to coincide with the annual World Aryan Congress in Hayden, when hundreds of white supremacists and members of other hate groups muster in North Idaho.