Americans search for national pride amid troubling events
The Fourth of July offered no day off from the economic, social, and political problems worrying Americans, as a shooting in Chicago marred the 246th anniversary of America鈥檚 independence. Nonetheless, people across the country seemed determined to overcome the country鈥檚 challenges.
Fireworks fill the sky near the conclusion of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra show in Grafton, Vermont, on July 3, 2022. Fireworks shows and barbecues offered only momentary escape from Americans' concerns, as violence in Chicago disrupted the holiday weekend.
Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer/AP
Chicago and New York
A shooting that left at least six people dead at an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb rattled Monday鈥檚 celebrations across the United States and further rocked a country already awash in turmoil over high court rulings on abortion and guns as well as hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection.
The latest mass shooting came as the nation tried to find cause to celebrate its founding and the bonds that still hold it together. It was supposed to be a day for taking off work, flocking to parades, devouring hot dogs and burgers at backyard barbecues, and gathering under a canopy of stars and exploding fireworks.
鈥淥n a day that we came together to celebrate community and freedom, we are instead mourning the tragic loss of life and struggling with the terror that was brought upon us,鈥� Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering said.
The Highland Park parade began around 10 a.m. but was suddenly halted 10 minutes later after shots were fired. Hundreds of parade-goers 鈥� some visibly hurt 鈥� fled the area, leaving behind chairs, baby strollers, and blankets. Authorities brought a person of interest into custody Monday evening.
As the Highland Park community mourned, fireworks began thundering in neighboring towns and across the country. Pyrotechnics bloomed shortly after nightfall in Boston and New York City, where a kaleidoscope of color exploded over the Hudson River and illuminated skyscrapers.
President Joe Biden, in remarks Monday celebrating 246 years of America鈥檚 independence, sought to reassure a nation both exhausted and unsettled by recent events.
鈥淚n recent days, there鈥檚 been reason to think this country is moving backwards, that freedom is being reduced, that rights we assumed were protected are no longer,鈥� Mr. Biden said in remarks to military families and administration officials enjoying a picnic on the South Lawn of the White House. 鈥淚 know it can be exhausting and unsettling, but tonight I want you to know we鈥檙e going to get through all of this.鈥�
Mr. Biden said many people see a divided country, but 鈥淚 believe we are more united than we are divided.鈥�
He tweeted earlier in the day about the shooting, calling it 鈥渟enseless gun violence that has yet again brought grief to an American community this Independence Day.鈥�
鈥淚 will not give up fighting the epidemic of gun violence,鈥� the president tweeted.
These are precarious times: an economic recession lurks, and the Highland Park shooting will weigh on a national psyche already raw from mass shootings like those seen recently at a Texas elementary school and a New York supermarket.
Sharp social and political divisions have also been laid bare by recent Supreme Court decisions overturning the constitutional right to abortion and striking down a New York law limiting who may carry a gun in public.
Nevertheless, many had reason to gather and celebrate for the first time in three years amid easing coronavirus precautions.
Nathan鈥檚 Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest returned to its traditional location in Brooklyn鈥檚 Coney Island neighborhood after two years elsewhere thanks to the pandemic.
鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful to be back here,鈥� Joey 鈥淛aws鈥� Chestnut told ESPN after winning the men鈥檚 competition by downing 63 hot dogs and buns 鈥� even as he momentarily put an animal rights protester who rushed the stage in a chokehold. Miki Sudo chomped 40 franks to win the women鈥檚 event.
Colorful displays were scheduled to light up the night sky from coast to coast. However, others, particularly in drought-stricken and wildfire-prone regions of the West, would forgo them.
Fireworks were the suspected cause behind a fire in Centerville, Utah, that led to the evacuation of dozens of homes and the cancellation of some of its Independence Day events, officials said.
It was a different matter in Phoenix, which is again going without fireworks 鈥� not because of the pandemic or fire concerns but supply-chain issues.
In emotional ceremonies across the country, some swore oaths of citizenship, qualifying them to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.
During a ceremony for naturalized citizens held at Mount Vernon, the Virginia home of George Washington, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told 52 people originally from 42 different countries that they were essential to building a strong labor force.
鈥淚mmigrants strengthen our workforce, and, in the process, help drive the resiliency and vitality of our economy,鈥� Ms. Yellen said in remarks prepared for the Monday event.
For many, July 4 was also a chance to set aside political differences and to celebrate unity, reflecting on the revolution that gave rise to history鈥檚 longest-living democracy.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always something to divide or unite us,鈥� says Eli Merritt, a political historian at Vanderbilt University whose upcoming book traces the fraught founding of the United States.
But he sees the Jan. 6 hearings probing last year鈥檚 storming of the U.S. Capitol as a reason for hope, an opportunity to rally behind democratic institutions. Even though not all Americans or their elected representatives agree with the committee鈥檚 work, Dr. Merritt is heartened by the fact that it鈥檚 at least somewhat bipartisan.
鈥淢oral courage as a locus for Americans to place hope, the willingness to stand up for what is right and true in spite of negative consequences to oneself,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is an essential glue of constitutional democracy.鈥�
This story was reported by The Associated Press.聽Calvan reported from New York and Foody from Chicago. Associated Press reporters Michael Tarm and Roger Schneider in Highland Park, Illinois; Darlene Superville and Fatima Hussein in Washington; Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Amy Beth Hanson in Helena, Montana; and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this story.