Cancer Patients Removed From Park Cited As Security Concern During Candlelight Vigil, Secret Service Apologizes To CureFest Attendees

Secret Service ordered nearly 700 children suffering from cancer and their parents to leave Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. on Saturday night, citing they were a security risk. The incident occurred during a CureFest candlelight vigil, and many individuals left their belongings, including wheelchairs, behind as they waited for the Secret Service to declare the area clear for use. By the time the children and parents were allowed back in, many of the children with cancer had to return to their hotel rooms to take their medications, while others were simply too weak to continue the service.

Organizers for CureFest were careful to have all necessary permits to hold the candlelight vigil for children that lost their lives to cancer, yet the Secret Service and U.S. Park Police ignored the documentation and shut the event down anyway, according to the Washington Post.

Eleven-year-old Natasha Gould was in attendance and wrote about the event on her blog.

“We ended up waiting at the gates for two hours, and they never let us in. And to be clear, the entire crowd was half kids. I cried last night in my hotel room because it was my first CureFest, and I couldn’t believe people were acting like they don’t care about children.”

Brian Leary, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, stated that the closure of the event was enacted due to standard protocols.

“The Secret Service would like to express its regret for not communicating more effectively with this group concerning the timeline for protectee movements in the vicinity of Lafayette Park.”

Time Magazine reported that the protocol was enacted because President Obama was being driven through the area. Joseph Clancy, director of the Secret Service issued a formal apology to CureFest organizers, stating that his men and women “did not handle the situation well.”

Nicole Mainor, another spokesperson for the Secret Service, revealed that they are working on adjusting the protocols used to ensure similar events are not mismanaged in the future.

“We can confirm that as a result of what happened this weekend, the [Secret Service] is reviewing protocols regarding closure protocols and any related communications.”

Mike Gillette, an organizer of CureFest, was disheartened that the children had to suffer as they waited for the all-clear to continue their event. Many were forced to return to their hotel rooms due to fatigue or to take medications. Others continued to wait until they were allowed back into the park to collect their personal belongings.

Gillette did see some irony in the closure of the event.

“It’s ironic our event is interrupted by routine travel by the president. Last year, someone jumped the fence at the White House and we had no problems.”

[Photo By Win McNamee/Getty Images News]