Public Project
Adams/Friendship 4th of July Parade 2024
Summary
Black and white photos from a fourth of July parade in Adams-Friendship, WI.
July 4, 2024
Five years ago, I attended a Fourth of July parade in Adams/Friendship, WI, out of a desire to photograph a Fourth of July event and out of curiosity about an area that had switched from primarily Democratic to Republican after the 2016 presidential race and election. Since I was last here, there has been a pandemic, a new president, and an insurrection. And the country seems more divided and fractured than ever.
Again, out of curiosity, I attended the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Adams/Friendship, bringing along, somewhat grudgingly, my daughter Olivia to witness this event in the deeply Republican community in rural Wisconsin.
Like any other small town coming out for a parade, people were staking their places along the parade route. A few local bars and cafes were open, serving drinks; many walked around with beers and bloody marys.
As expected on this patriotic holiday, people wore stars & stripes, and red, white, and blue clothing. Many also wore patriotic T-shirts supporting freedom, the thin blue line, and Trump.
The floats and other parade entries mainly consisted of parade staples: marching bands, local businesses and organizations advertising their wares and services, and political candidates vying for support. Candy was thrown, and a number of floats shot water into the crowd as they passed by.
The Adams County Republicans pulled a massive trailer showing its support for Trump, with some minor candidate placards stapled around the bottom. When the Trump float appeared, many (too many) around us moved to the curb and began to clap and cheer. One woman in her "Trump 2024" t-shirt stood and clapped, hands held high.
Not to be outdone, the democratic party also made a showing with their entry: a woman dressed as Lady Liberty and a 'Biden-Harris' sign stuck to the truck pulling the float. This mild showing mirrors the lack of a Go Big or Go Home attitude the opposition has taken in politics over the last ten years. As Lady Liberty passed, there were some jeers and a few cheers. But one woman, probably in her early 70s, who had been sitting for the majority of the parade, moved to the edge of her chair, pushed herself up, walked to the curb, extending her arms as far as they could reach, and clapped loudly and proudly at the one glimmer of hope today.
After Lady Liberty passed and the old woman sat down, I leaned in to give her and her adult son a fist bump and said, "That was a brave thing to do, considering the crowd that surrounds us; thank you." "I don't care anymore!" she snapped. "These people!" She later asked who I was, and I explained I was here five years ago to witness this event. She said, "It's gotten worse since then." We shook hands and patted each other on the arm in a show of solidarity.
I brought my daughter Olivia, who will be 13 in August, to witness this event. I try not to overwhelm her with politics and the doom and gloom I and others feel. But I believe it's important that she be aware of what is happening and how it might affect her and her friends and family. Olivia's observations and thoughts can be found here.
Witnessing the event today was a reminder that there are many outside the bubble I live in (Madison, WI) who support a would-be fascist. And that these supporters are within an hour's drive. For my daughter's sake, I try to keep hope alive.
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