PLATTEVILLE, Sept. 9 — A bus sponsored by Grant County Right to Life won’t be in the Platteville Dairy Days parade Saturday morning.

The group made that decision after Dairy Days officials wouldn’t let the bus into the parade with photos of fetuses on the side of the bus.

Marge Karsten of Grant County Right to Life said the group Friday “was given the option to cover the prints of six-week and 18-week-old infants in the womb that appear on the sides of the bus or to march without the bus.”

Karsten said the group decided to withdraw the bus from the parade, though the group will be marching in the parade. The bus will be at St. Mary Catholic Church, 130 W. Cedar St., for tours following the parade until 12:30 p.m.

“The Platteville Dairy Days Parade is run as a fun, entertaining and family event,” said Wayne Wodarz, executive director of the Platteville Regional Chamber and a member of the Dairy Days Committee. “It is not meant as a forum for individuals or groups wishing to make political statements. As such, the Dairy Days committee reserves the right to refuse entry into the parade ‘any unit which it deems objectionable because of any type of non-family graphic or vocal representation.’ This is stated as the opening paragraph on our parade registration form.”

The bus, owned by Rev. Mark Cutler of Mayville, president of Dodge County Right to Life, features “seven family-friendly exhibits, including interactive displays, promoting the humanity of preborn infants,” according to a GCRTL news release.

Wodarz said after The Journal reported Sept. 2 on the bus’ being in the parade, “the chamber had received communication from individuals expressing concern about the graphics on the bus. 

“A photo of a fetus may not necessarily be a non-family graphic, but in the eyes of the Dairy Days Committee, it was seen as an objectionable graphic for a family event encouraging children of all ages to the parade. Several options were offered to the Grant County Right to Life group that would have allowed them access to the parade, but apparently they decided not to participate.”

“The bus depicts the value of human life at every age and stage, consistent with GCRTL’s mission,” said Karsten. “The group didn’t view a photo of life before birth as a graphic image that would need to be covered.”

The Dairy Days Committee’s parade policy does allow political candidates and political parties in the parade.

“Yes, both parties will be represented in the parade,” said Wodarz. “It’s doubtful there will be any negative signage or chants taking place, but candidates names will be presented and no doubt they will be asking for the consideration of Nov. 3 vote.”

“It’s interesting that the parade is not supposed to be a forum for political statements, because politicians have marched in parades, often distributing flyers with their images and positions on issues, for much of this country’s history,” said Karsten. “Some of those issues have been controversial.”

GCRTL had a booth at area events this summer, including Night on the Square in Lancaster July 16 and during the Grant County Fair.