New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Skipping St. Patrick's Day Parade

"I will not be marching. I think we still need to go farther. I look forward to progress in the future."

New York’s annual St. Patrick's Day parade kicked off on Tuesday morning on 5th Avenue. More than two million people lined the streets to watch the largest parade celebrating Irish heritage.

Of all the people who lined the streets and participated, one high profile dignitary was not at the event. Mayor Bill de Blasio, did not be participate, objecting to the fact that only one gay group was allowed to march in the parade.

At an unrelated press conference on Monday, he said, “I will not be marching. I think we still need to go farther. I look forward to progress in the future.”

This is the second year-in-a-row that de Blasio is skipping the parade because organizers failed to alter their politics on gay pride displays. He did march in the all-inclusive "St. Pat’s For All Parade" in Sunnyside, Queens, on March 1.

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