AMELIA, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio village's Christmas parade may end due to concerns over possible lawsuits for using public money to finance it and possible protests if Christmas is removed from the name to avoid legal challenges.
Amelia Mayor Leroy Ellington says the parade sponsor for the past few years backed out due to a lack of volunteers and problems emerged when the village council proposed financing it.
Ellington says the village solicitor told council members that Amelia could be sued for using public money for an event linked to a religious event.
The mayor says a proposal to change the parade to a "holiday" parade drew angry responses from the community. He says some churches threatened to protest along the parade route if Christmas is dropped from the name.
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Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com
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