OHIO — As many go out to fireworks shows and Independence Day events, others are staying away or protesting Friday.
Hundreds attended both types of events this Fourth of July in Columbus, coming from all sides of the political spectrum. The Doo Dah Parade in Columbus brought a lot of floats.
“This embodies the patriotism of exactly what Fourth of July is and what our first amendment is,” Dan Wesley, a parade participant, said, “which is free speech.”
From a political satire to a political unrest, millions across America were out on the streets for the United States
At a rally outside the statehouse, protesters chanted, “What do we want? People power. When do we want it? Now.”
The rally’s organizers say it promotes democracy while voicing concerns.
“This is my first protest because I’ve had to work in the past,” Lin Young, a rally participant, said. “And I feel more patriotic today than I have since November.”
Some carried signs that said, “there’s nothing to celebrate.”
“I drove in from Akron to come to the protest today because i want to protect democracy,” Jennifer Harper, a rally participant, said.
Glen Duerr, a professor of international studies at Cedarville University, said there are many ways to look at patriotism.
He said expressing patriotism often has a delicate line that people sometimes cross.
“But at the most basic level it’s the devotion to the interests of one’s country,” Duerr said. “Part of being an American is going to parades and being able to peacefully assemble, but anything that tears that down, tear the country down, is deeply problematic in the long run.”
When it comes to how people feel about America, opinions vary.
“I’m an absolute patriotic person,” Wesley said. “I side with no sides. I love America for what it stands for. I love our constitution.”
Some others are just glad to be Americans.
“That we just need to be able to voice our opinions and celebrate what we believe,” Betsy Thompson said.
Yet others are worried.
“I’m actually feeling a little bit of ashamed,” Harper said. “I feel our country is moving in the wrong direction, we’re going backwards instead of forward.”
At the end of the day, the common denominator for Americans is hope.
“It was meant to be a place where people could come and thrive and be free,” Young said.