In 1982 the United States Border Patrol set up a border checkpoint within the United States itself. The location was in Florida City on the only road out of the Keys effectively cutting it off from the mainland and treating the Keys like a foreign country. While supposedly searching for illegal aliens, the patrol also searched under the seats and in glove compartments. What followed added to the colorful history of Key West and subsequently made our week in the Keys one to remember.
All of the following pictures are from the Conch Republic Independence Parade.
The roadblock led to a huge traffic jam, deliveries were delayed or cancelled and tourism on the islands plummeted. Community leaders, outraged at what was taking place (unprecedented illegal search and seizure of American citizens), banded together and filed an injunction against the government’s action in the Federal Court in Miami. The plea was ignored.
On April 23 1982, The Mayor of Key West, Dennis Wardlow, responded by stating, in Key West fashion, his proclamation of secession. Peter Anderson reminisces about the day:
“At noon, on the day of secession, at Mallory Square in Key West Florida, Mayor Wardlow read the proclamation of secession and proclaimed aloud that the Conch Republic was an independent nation separate from the U.S. and then symbolically began the Conch Republic’s Civil Rebellion by breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform. After one minute of rebellion, the now, Prime Minister Wardlow turned to the Admiral in charge of the Navy Base at Key West, and surrendered to the Union Forces, and demanded 1 Billion dollars in foreign aid and War Relief to rebuild our nation after the long Federal siege!” (Office of the Secretary General, the Honorable Sir Peter Anderson)
The Conch Republic has as its stated Foreign Policy, “The Mitigation of World Tension through the Exercise of Humor”. As the world’s first “Fifth World” country, we exist as a “State of Mind”, and aspire only to bring more Warmth, Humor and Respect to a planet we find in sore need of all three.” (Office of the Secretary General, the Honorable Sir Peter Anderson)
The federal government never officially recognized the secession but they did remove the border patrol checkpoint and the Conch Republic was born.
This week was the 30th anniversary of the rebellion and independence of the Conch Republic and to celebrate, the tiny Island Nation celebrated in a way that only Key West can. They held parades, craft fairs, bed races, boat races, pub crawls and a pirate ball. Many of the events raised money for charity, some were just for fun and ALL contributed to the main Key West economy, tourism.
We attended several of the events starting with the “Longest Parade”. The everyone’s invited parade started at the Atlantic Ocean and proceeded down Duval Street to the Gulf of Mexico. It was quite entertaining with bikes, cars, balloons, bubbles, pirates and of course, Conch Dignitaries.
The Lil Dude filled up my camera case with candy thrown from the people in the parade and was singled out and given a conch horn ( a great big THANKS to whomever gave that to him – we have had to listen to it in the car ever since!). We also collected beads (Mardi Gras style) and eye patches (pirate style) but, the Big Dude made the best score of the night when a woman came up to him and handed him a large pirate flag!
The Anniversary celebration was fun. But it was also a reminder of our rights as American citizens and how a peaceful demonstration can remind the government of those rights when through the misuse of power, they have been denied.
There was music coming from the bars and cheers from the people on the street and the old town became a big party scene. The Dudes were psyched about their goodies and we all went home with smiles on our faces. The Conch Republic has a way of doing that to you.
The Conch Republic motto:
“We seceded where others failed”
Sir Peter Anderson
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