The Crystal Lake Gala Committee criticized the Fox Valley Libertarian Party for its innovative criticism of the Homeland Security under the Patriot Act in 2005.

This led to the party’s sitting out the 2006 parade and the banning of the McHenry County Peace Group in 2007 for a sign about the Iraq War that Crystal Lake Gala Parade Committee members found distasteful.

This year the Libertarians marched in Elgin’s Independence Day Parade.

The Peace Group parked its banned float and “no-no” sign along the parade route at Pierson and Dole.

In 2005, the Libertarians marched behind a banner saying,

HOMELAND SECURITY

Spread along the parade route were Libertarians who were “arrested” by a man wearing a brown shirt with a German shepherd on a leash.

Then they were taken to a jail on the float, where Attorney General John Ashcroft was standing bearing the label “Grim Reaper.”

The brown shirt even arrested Uncle Sam.

Those arrested were put in a jail on the float.

Behind the jail was a sign saying,

Elgin’s entry was less politically challenging.

The 2005 Crystal Lake 4th of July Parade came from the Fox Valley Libertarian Party web site.

All photos may be enlarged by clicking on them.