Back on Juneteenth I went to a Unite NY march to celebrate the holiday and I joined back up with them for their 4th of July march. Unite NY is a collection of different activist groups that have been putting on marches around the city. This march went from Madison Square Park in the city all the way to Dumbo in Brooklyn. I made the full march this time after quitting a little early on Juneteenth because I am a broken old man. The march stopped at different points around the city to talk about the foundation of the country and how that did not include black Americans. 

I consider myself a patriot. I love the idea of this country and that’s why I love activism. My hope is that one day we can realize the vision the founding fathers had for this country, but for all Americans, not just white men. I grew up loving the 4th of July, and I am not going to stop enjoying it, but that’s really easy for someone who has always been part of this country. The idea of a bunch of people who hated being governed by leaders who didn’t represent them fighting back and creating a system where the citizens had a say in their governance is a powerful one and it’s exactly what the Black Lives Matter protesters are trying to accomplish. 

Patriotism isn’t just for the right, and I promise I won’t be burning any flags any time soon, but observing 4th of July as a day of activism instead of an excuse to BBQ and set off fireworks seems like a very good one to me. I want to see the American Dream possible for every American and that won’t happen until we make huge changes in our government, our class system and deal with our legacy of racism from day one of this country. 

Click here to see the photos from the Unite NY 4th of July March. 

 

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