It was a humid, steamy day in Washington D.C., on the nation’s birthday, but the crowds still came out—and supporters of the President were still fired up—for a day of engagement with voters.
On the corner of 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, right where the Fourth of July parade route started, Organizing for America (OFA) supporters gathered hours before the festivities began to plan out the day.
Kouri Marshall, DC State Director/Coordinator for OFA was on hand for the event:
We’re going to be going around and asking people to pledge that they’re in, and that they’ll stand with the President. There’s nothing more patriotic than getting people engaged with their government on the Fourth of July.
He continued:
D.C. is an important three electoral votes. People are in this city from all over the country, and what they see here they bring back home. We have an opportunity today to get people in this parade really fired up, and that’ll have a ripple effect.
Not far from Kouri were Denise and Michael, parents of Matthew, an OFA summer organizer:
We’re so proud of our son. We came down from Vermont to see him. … This opportunity he has to work on the President’s behalf is wonderful to see as parents. To see his vision expand thru his work as an organizer … we’re thrilled to see it.
Michael Jr., a college student who was probably embarrassed by his parent’s glowing words but hid it well, says he is excited to be an organizer:
It’s not always easy. A lot of people think that we’re too far out from the election to care yet, and it’s our job as organizers to remind them that the hard work of winning this election starts now. This whole experience has taught me that when you get knocked down, you get right back up and start organizing again. So that’s what we’re doing today. We’re going out there and getting people to commit, because the election is sooner than people realize.
A few feet away was another first: USMC veteran and Democratic Party supporter Joe B. came out to volunteer.
Joe has been a long-time Democrat and supporter of the President’s, but chose this Fourth of July as the first time to come out and actively engage folks:
As a vet, I know intimately that freedoms don’t come for free, and you have to pay its price. But I’m out here supporting a President I think is doing a great job, and I couldn’t be happier.
Joe was among the first people to receive his packet of supporter cards and hit the parade lines, asking people to support the President.
Our founders fought for scenes like this: citizens from all walks of life engaging other citizens on a day that celebrates our democracy. It was a scene they would have been proud of.