Christmas parade canceled amid legal concerns, protests

AMELIA, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio village’s Christmas parade has been canceled amid concerns over possible lawsuits, protests and logistical problems.
    Amelia Mayor Leroy Ellington says the village solicitor told council members that Amelia could be sued for using public money to sponsor an event linked to celebrating the birth of Jesus.
    But when the village considered changing the Christmas parade to a “holiday” parade, people protested and a local church withdrew permission to use its parking lot as a staging area.
    The Amelia Business Association had sponsored the village’s Christmas parade for the past few years, but its president says they didn’t have enough volunteers this year.