Pro-Life Bus Rejected from Dairy Days Parade
By Bridget Palm, WRTL Fall 2026 Intern
The Grant County Right to Life chapter’s pro-life bus, which has been in the works for several years and features multiple pro-life pictures on it, was refused entry into the Platteville Dairy Days parade because of its pro-life message.
According to the Platteville Dairy Days officials, the images on the bus of a 6-week-old fetus, a 14-week-old fetus, and a baby qualified as ‘non-family graphic representation’ and were not considered appropriate for the parade. Wayne Wodarz, a member of the Dairy Days Committee, claimed that this was because the parade “is not meant as a forum for individuals or groups wishing to make political statements.’”
The Grant County Republican Party highlighted the inconsistency of the Dairy Days officials’ decision on Facebook, noting that several political groups, including a pro-LGBTQ+ organization, elected officials, and others were permitted to have entries in the parade without pre-approval.
Even though the bus only featured “seven family-friendly exhibits, including interactive displays, promoting the humanity of preborn infants,” according to a GCRTL news release, the pro-life chapter was still targeted for removal from the parade.
Marge Karsten, a leader of the chapter, said that they were given the choice to either cover up the pictures on the side of the bus or to march in the parade without the bus. Ultimately the group decided to march in the parade without the bus and offered tours of the bus to around forty visitors afterwards.
The county chapter made the best of the situation, but this was clearly an unjust and discriminatory choice made to prevent the pro-life message from being publicly displayed. However, thanks to their ingenuity, WRTL’s Grant County volunteers still reached people with the pro-life message. Even when local and national officials enforce discriminatory rules that are biased against pro-life groups, WRTL finds a way to share the truth and to support women and babies.