A group of Juneau residents who support law enforcement are having a difficult time organizing area residents to participate in the city’s July 4th Independence Day parade.
In the wake of anti-police demonstration around the nation last year, Juneau Backs the Blue formed in order to collaborate on ways to publicly show appreciation and respect for Juneau’s law enforcement officers. The group, which has 730 followers on Facebook, organized a couple of rallies last summer.
Mobilizing volunteers for a float or marching group during the July 4th parade, however, has proved difficult.
“We have not received enough interest in being in the parade, so we will not be entering a float or walking group,” a June 28 notice on the group’s Facebook page states.
Several members expressed concern about being pegged as a racist or Nazi by anti-law enforcement activists in Juneau. One woman worried that a pro-police float might incite violence.
Others, however, said such fears were overblown, and encouraged Juneau Backs the Blue to have a presence at the parade.
“I for one am in no way worried about anything happening at parade,” Aimee Austin posted. “I’ve lived here my whole life and not once was the community parade or Douglas party ever effected by anyone remotely acting that way – maybe you should come hang with us at parade? As far as the float for parade, don’t need one to walk in it! If you support our officers, emergency response personnel and corrections officers, walk in the parade who cares what simpleminded people think.”
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
While July 4th parades are traditionally occasions to celebrate America’s official Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776, the City of Juneau has decided that this year’s theme will be “Building Bridges Across the Last Frontier.” To highlight this theme, parade organizers appointed two grand marshals for the event.
“In each one’s unique path, both have used education, cultural celebration, and historical stories to create an atmosphere of understanding and appreciation between brown, Black, white, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous Americans,” the official parade website states.
One marshal is former Juneau police officer Benjamin Danny Coronell, who served from 1979 to 2003. The other is Sherry Patterson, the president of Black Awareness Association of Juneau, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing concerns of people of Black American heritage. Over the past year, however, it has embraced the Black Lives Matter movement, critical race theory and LGBTQ activism.
TAKING ACTION
The early registration deadline to enter the parade has passed, but residents can still enter a float or marching group if they pay a $15 late fee. For more information about entering a float or walking group in the parade, click here.
11 Comments
Well when the children start throwing a fit and protesting SMACK them down. Dont be afraid of a bunch of degenerates. Build your float
The degenerates throwing a fit should be spanked and sent to their jail cell without dinner.
This is so crazy! How could supporting police/Fire/Corrections and other law enforcement/emergency responders be raciest??? There are people of all ethnic backgrounds serving in these organizations. It makes no sense!
Juneau is a true Commie S-Hole.
This.
Anchorage is not far behind. Crisis only slightly averted, commie assembly is still a problem.
Joel, Can we assume you have been threatened into silence about the real issues such as the Communist Chinese buy out of our Govt as Dominion is still the death of Liberty and our Vote. Or we have not heard a peep about the thieving bastards that are stealing our PFD in this budget… A sad sad day in the Land.
None of this stuff goes on in a Society with GOD and the rule of Law as the guide… The CCP Dominion seals the fate of the vote that is the death of Liberty and the politicians become the abomination to the people. Just look at the scumbags openly ripping us off and breaking the Law… build the gallows…..
I’ve heard some lame excuses for not having a float and walking in the parade. If doing so upsets some people they need to get over it. 4th of July is our independence from England. It has nothing to do with what’s going on in our country. Build the float. March in the parade. If those that think its anything other than independence then they need to stay home. If they start a riot the police will be right their to stop it.
Go March at least. Show your not a bunch of cowards. Stand up for your rights! All this chicken poop and pussy footing around is prejudice to your group. Show you have the same rights as everyone else. Go march!
Petition to rename Juneau, ‘Northern Seattle/Portland.’ Then, MOVE our capitol here to Anchorage; our population center. Those petty ‘over’ indulged snowflakes we call OUR legislature can make do with (‘their’) office building, WE are already paying for. WE the citizens sure need to keep a closer eye on their “shenanigans ! Great grandma PS If our ‘elect’ are kept under a watchful eye.. the theft of our monies under color of law will go down and we can save most of the wasteful “per diem” Bam!
So when there’s a fire in your building or an earthquake some type of help that’s needed.
Who comes running Wait its the Police.
These woke people need to shut up, have your say, yes Freedom of speech.
But you need to let me and others, have our say, Freedom of speech too.
So Shut up about the police. Put a sign on your door, we support BLM.
So when your building is burning, they can Pass by.
Wait that’s not right, or what, honest God fearing, loving police officers do, these officers, who God created are Red, Yellow, Black and White. Just people doing there job, they’ve come to help/save YOU.
Juneau, a remote, hard to access Capitol City… that Libtards and demonrats love.
Hiding like criminals in their ivory tower…