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Patriotism rings along Main Avenue during July 4 Parade

Indivisible Durango voices political concerns at parade

Main Avenue filled with color, patriotic song, cyclists, and a few miniature donkeys during the Fourth of July Parade Tuesday.

The sidewalks were packed, even though the city of Durango canceled the annual fireworks display in the wake of the Lightner Creek Fire burning west of town.

Durangoan Karen Umbhau didn’t mind the cancellation given the energy, resources and expense put into fighting the fire.

“They can use those fireworks another time,” she said.

Among many clubs decked out in red, white and blue, Indivisible Durango, a group formed after President Donald Trump won the election, showed their patriotism by voicing concerns on myriad of issues.

Members carried signs reading “Health care is a human right,” “Protect the First Amendment,”“Resist Injustice not Each Other” and others covering a variety of issues.

Some Indivisible members said expressing their views on the Fourth of July was fitting.

“We’re fighting for what’s right for this country,” Julie Daugherty said.

Indivisible member Doug Fults was marching for health care for all and felt Independence Day was a good time to speak out because the holiday is all about citizens gaining the right to speak out and participate in democracy.

Karen Skelly was walking for the environment and public lands and regulations that protect the planet.

“I happen to like our planet the way it is,” she said.

Spectator Patrick Casula, from Virginia, appreciated the Indivisible messages supporting civil rights, women’s rights, health care and other issues. “There’s no better time to show free expression than on the Fourth of July,” he said.

Richard Fultner walked with the La Plata County Republican Central Committee, a group that participates in many parades.

“We know that we are the minority and we want to get our faces out there,” he said.

Local Republicans are concerned about everyone’s rights, not excluding anyone, and keeping the political conversation civil, he said.

Earlier in the day, a crowd at Buckley Park was reminded of America’s founding ideals at “American Voices,” a concert and document reading.

In addition to solemn reminders of the Fourth of July’s significance, Southwest Civic Winds played patriotic marches and well-known melodies, such as “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Fort Lewis College and the city of Durango hosted the event, and all of the readings were presented in their original forms so listeners could shape their own thoughts about the readings’ impact on history, FLC President Dene Thomas said.

Cindy and Daniel Molina, visiting from Albuquerque, appreciated the readings, especially “Legal Alien” by Pat Mora because it addresses the bicultural experience of Mexican Americans.

“It brought some more meaning to it,” Mora said of the readings.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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