Johnson County GOP parade float puts party over country

In 1974, Republican Congressman Larry Hogan Sr. came out in support of impeaching President Richard Nixon. In 1860, staunch Democrat Edwin Stanton fought against President Buchanan’s plan to cede Fort Sumter to the Confederacy and helped Republican Abraham Lincoln prepare for his presidency. At key moments in the last 248 years, American democracy has persisted because of patriots who put our country before their party.

At Fourth of July parades in our county, I was disappointed to see Johnson County Republicans choose to fly the Trump flag above our American flag. Unfortunately, it was not surprising after eight years of watching the vast majority of Republican leaders and elected officials pledge allegiance to a man who does not respect American democracy. I was heartened by parade attendees of both parties joyously celebrating our country and waving the small American flags that I helped Johnson County Democrats hand out. I’m not a stickler for the flag code, but nothing should come before the preservation of American democracy.

Adam Zabner

Iowa City