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St. Patrick's Day Parade Steps Off Without Walsh

BOSTON (CBS/AP) —The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade stepped off Sunday afternoon but Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was not there.

Photos: St. Patrick's Day Parade

Walsh said he would not participate in the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade because organizers are excluding gay groups.

St. Patrick's Day Parade
A float in the annual parade. (Carl Stevens/WBZ)

Walsh said in an email on Sunday he's disappointed he will not take part in the Sunday event because parade plans prevent all Boston residents from participating fully.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

St. Patrick's Day Parade Steps Off Without Walsh

Walsh and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch tried to broker a deal that would have allowed a gay group to march, but the negotiations broke down. The mayor said the St. Patrick's Day celebrations honor Irish history that he says has been shaped by the fight against oppression.

Lead parade organizer Philip Wuschke Jr. said gay people are not prohibited from marching. He said organizers do not want the parade to turn into a demonstration for a particular group.

Still hundreds turned out for the parade which brought man and animal dressed in green and orange.

Watch: WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens at the parade:

Boston police said 293 citations were issued for public drinking and made five arrests -- two for disorderly conduct and three for public drinking. One person was placed in protective custody.

Police said the vast majority of those who attended the parade did so in "a fun and safe manner."

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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