The city of Delray Beach has canceled its St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities, saying a new state anti-DEI law leaves no room for government-sponsored cultural celebrations. The city also plans to withdraw its sponsorship of its June LGBTQ Pride events, officials said. The law takes effect Jan. 1.
The city attorney advised Mayor Tom Carney that celebrations of culture, ethnicity or heritage that are not national holidays could violate the measure, according to the city. Carney said he made the call to cancel one of the city’s biggest events of the year.
The parade has run since 1970 through downtown Delray Beach, with sponsored floats, school bands and members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest and oldest Irish Catholic organization in the country. The parade was privately run until about eight years ago.
Carney said the city would hand the events to a private sponsor willing to pay for them. He said residents have flooded city offices with emails, calls and social media messages objecting to the cancellation.
Gov. Ron DeSantis accused the city of “malicious compliance,” saying the decision is not required by Florida law and is a political stunt. Carney said the city is trying to avoid legal exposure under SB 1134, which allows civil or legal consequences for officials who violate the provision.
