An Independence Day parade

A note from the ground

Yesterday I was in Creswell, a pretty Oregon town with a population of some 5,600, marching with the Democratic Party of Lane County (DPLC) in the annual Fourth of July parade. Holding one end of the DPLC banner, waving to the crowds lining the sidewalks. Taking in applause for and jeers at our party.

The Creswell July 4th parade is a big deal, bringing in thousands from all over to watch the parade. According to our local daily newspaper,

The parade featured participants like local fire departments, school bands and cheerleaders, the Lane County Sheriff's Office horseback Mounted Posse, Rosie the Riveters, loggers, vintage cars, bubble blowers and candy tossers… Camping chairs and wagons dotted the sidewalks along the parade route hours before the event began. People were also hosting barbecues in their front yards.

I was with the DPLC in the 2024 Fourth of July parade as well. That November, Creswell, election precinct 4400, went for Trump over Harris 55% to 40%. Our reception from the sidewalk crowds was somewhat less favorable than those election results would later indicate. It was easy to shrug off the clusters of onlookers booing our little crew, or showing their displeasure by chanting the name of the future election victor. But we were heartened by the small groups that cheered us on.

We go to Creswell annually, in part to give the Democrats there the gift of solidarity. That is also a major part of the No Kings demonstrations across the country. We are not alone and we will not hide or be silent.

The crowd was much more tilted in our favor this time. And we had more unsolicited volunteers marching with us. One of them said: “I had to do something.”

I’d arrived at the parade staging site early, and spoke briefly with a couple of other early arrivals like me. I took some notes on those conversations:

Arrived at Creswell High School before 8:00 AM. Walking around, seeing big work trucks festooned with American flags. Back at my car, speaking with a woman just leaving. Told her I was with Democratic Party of Lane County, and she applauded. Told her about the Social Security letter trumpeting the [Big Ugly] bill and how the letter says it saves money for us SS recipients. She mentioned the Medicaid cuts. Told her the mechanics of cutting Medicaid via onerous bureaucratic requirements of recipients. They know not to mess with Social Security or Medicare because old people vote, I said; because we raise hell, she said.

A woman with a horse trailer pulled up, and started walking towards me to find out if they were supposed to park in the adjacent field. I didn’t know. I told her I was with the Democratic Party of Lane County. She said that she became non-affiliated when all this nonsense was going on. She thinks that we will have a more fertile field now, because of it.

That prophecy proved accurate in the parade, and will continue to foreshadow trends. Our work is to maintain and increase this momentum.