CHICAGO – Two musical groups from the Chicago area that were anticipating being a part of the 58th Presidential Inaugural Parade have responded to public pressure to drop out in two different ways – one is canceling the planned trip, and the other is asking Trump supporters to bolster their efforts.
The South Shore Drill Team, led by Dr. Clifton Underwood, announced his group would not be celebrating Donald J. Trump's inauguration on January 20th, although they marched in President Obama's 2009 parade. Underwood said they weren't attending because they were notified at the last minute, although on January 2 the group sent out a press release that 35 of their group would be going to D.C. for the parade.
Underwood told ABC7 that they received angry emails, phone calls and voice mails after the notice was sent out. They said people were upset with Trump and his "comments about the African-American community."
But Trump critics didn't focus just on Chicago's South Shore Drill Team. They also turned up the heat on the Olivet Nazarene University, whose world-renowned marching band was listed among the Inaugural Parade Committee's participant list December 30th, as first reported by Illinois Review.
The university's president John Bowling is asking those that support the Marching Tigers going to the Trump Inauguration sign onto a petition on the Change.org website. Thus far, less than 600 have signed on in support. Bowling's letter was in response to a petition set up on the same website, calling on Olivet Nazarene to withdraw.
"As word spread that we accepted the Inaugural Parade invitation, individuals began expressing personal thoughts, some asking that we not participate and many others cheering us on," Bowling writes in a letter accompanying the petition request. "I understand the varying opinions, and I respect those who have shared their objections as well as support.
The band asked to participate before they knew who the next president would be, the president said.
"Several have asked if Olivet would have participated in the Inaugural Parade had the outcome of the election been different. The answer is an emphatic 'yes,'" he wrote. "Had Secretary Clinton been elected president, Olivet would have been just as honored to participate. In fact, the parade application process started several weeks before the election."
The trip expenses are being paid for by private donations, the president said.
"I also ask you to congratulate our students on their hard work. This invitation opens a door for them to step into a chapter of history that is afforded to only a few. Please join me also in praying for the work and reach of Olivet, for our country, and for all of our leaders, past, present and future."
The petition supporting Olivet Nazarene University's participation in the parade is available HERE.
Wow, a Christian college would support Hillary/ Pro-Abortion all nine months- but not Trump/Pro-Life?!
If you choose not to play at the President’s parade, you are a disgrace as a school and a band. If you choose to cave in to peer pressure, that shows everyone you are not only weak as a band, but let others tell you what to do!
So what I’m saying is you should play at President Trump’s parade and be professional!
You should play at President Trump’s parade. It’s the honorable thing to do!
The South Side Drill Team will lose credibility by taking a political position. Do they not support diversity?
Of course they should perform at the Inauguration!
I could NOT agree with you more.
Sounds like Olivet is being led by a pro-abortionist.
How does that sit with the parents of students, I wonder?
How does it sit with alumni?
You’re a Christian School? Yet you would support someone that would be ok with baby killing!
What a confusing article… Most people that have read it did not understand it. The South Shore Drill Team IS NOT attending the parade. Olivet’s marching band IS going to march in the parade
I have stopped following quite a few of my supposed “friends” on FB, some presumably Christian, who are incensed with the Trump win despite (as Cindy notes) their candidate being a strong advocate of Planned Parenthood (especially after the horrific videos posted last year of the baby organ selling business). I think because we live in Illinois we are surrounded by people who do not represent the bulk of Americans and who have a distorted view of what has happened in the past 8 years. I am done with arguing with these people.
President Trump and his Supporters
How did this happen you ask? Well here is how it happened:
You created “us” when you attacked our freedom of speech.
You created “us” when you attacked our right to bear arms.
You created “us” when you attacked our Christian beliefs.
You created “us” when you constantly referred to us as racists.
You created “us” when you constantly called us xenophobic.
You created “us” when you told us to get on board or get out of the way.
You created “us” when you attacked our flag.
You created “us” when you took God out of our schools.
You created “us” when you confused women’s rights with feminism.
You created “us” when you began to emasculate men.
You created “us” when you decided to make our children sissies.
You created “us” when you decided to vote for progressive ideals.
You created “us” when you attacked our way of life.
You created “us” when you decided to let our government get out of control.
You created “us” the no longer silent majority.
You created “us” when you began murdering innocent law enforcement officers.
You created “us” when you lied and said we could keep our insurance plans and our doctors.
You created “us” when you allowed our jobs to continue to leave our country.
You created us when you created and ignored laws that cut our throats and give our jobs to foreign workers.
You created “us” when you took a knee, or stayed seated, or didn’t remove your hat during our National Anthem.
You created “us” when you forced us to buy health care and then financially penalized us for not participating.
We became fed up and we pushed back and spoke up!
We did it with ballots, not bullets.
With ballots, not riots.
With ballots, not looting.
With ballots, not blocking traffic.
With ballots, not fires…. except the one you started inside of “us.”
“YOU” created “US.” It really is just that simple
author unknown….
If they are afraid to play at Trump’s Inauguration or are worried about possible backlash, then let the sniveling cowards stay home. Trump doesn’t need or want that spineless garage band posing as a marching band. He wants patriots and true Americans who actually stand for what is right in the American system. He doesn’t need whiners.
They are supporting the Office of the President. This is a civic function, not a political one.