By AP
Tulsa, OK – Naming flap leads to dueling Tulsa holiday parades
TULSA, Okla. (AP) A group that's upset over the removal of the word "Christmas" from Tulsa's annual downtown parade plans to hold a rival parade Saturday at the same time as the city's parade.
Tulsa Christmas Parade LLC President Mark Croucher says the parade will be held on the south side of town while the city's Parade of Lights begins in downtown.
The downtown parade that's been a holiday tradition for nearly 80 years hasn't used the word "Christmas" in its title since 2009. This is the first year Croucher's group is holding a separate event.
Even Sen. Jim Inhofe of Tulsa is getting involved by refusing to appear in this year's downtown parade because the word "Christmas" was removed. He'll take part instead in parades in Catoosa, Owasso and Coweta.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.