The Morgan County Democrats’ float finishes up the Brush Colorado Independence Day Parade with a welcome cooling off courtesy of the Brush Fire Department. Guests from Washington, Yuma, Boulder, and Denver counties helped put together a brave showing for Eastern Plains democrats!

(Re)born on the Fourth of July

Patriotism, Hope, and Joy!

Democrats from the Front Range to Yuma converged on Brush Colorado for the longest Independence Day Parade in Colorado. With a flatbed float, an antique pickup, a cool chopper ridden by the Democrat of the Year, and many parade walkers handing out candy to the kids along the route, by all accounts we wowed the crowd.

As the float passed, riders were thrilled to see whole front yards full of Democrats and sympathizers burst into applause and cheers. Even as neighboring groups stayed stonily silent, their kids ran out for candy, and here and there a surreptitious wave or smile told us that the walls are soon to come down — or at least that a few cracks have opened up.

Governor John Hiickenlooper makes an appearance. He drove a tractor earlier in the parade. Other CD4 Notables Chase Kohne, Nancy McCormick, and Ken Buck made the tactical error of attending the Greeley Stampede instead and missing all the fun.

A few dedicated activists must be acknowledged for making this triumph of the spirit happen. April Bowen, who made the terrific sacrifice of missing the parade so she could welcome us home with a massive spread of barbecue. Nancy O’Dell, hero of the Resistance, who evangelized this happening with groups from Indivisible Yuma to the State Democratic Central Committee. The dedicated women of Longmont Area Dems, who have been doing this kind of thing for fifteen years now and are still full of energy and love. Roy Chavez, who came to plead for ways to change things faster.

The memory of our brothers and sisters on this Independence Day will sustain us through the harder times still to come.

Originally published in The Weathervane No 7 on July 7, 2017. [Subscribe]