2022 Elections - Get Involved!

Marching for Independence

Below you’re going to find an invitation to march with the Wheeling Dems and local Democratic candidates during the various 4th of July parades happening in our area. It’s not lost on us the sad irony of marching in an Independence Day parade when, just in the past week, half of Americans have had their independence over their bodies ripped from them by extremists on our Supreme Court. What’s more, Justice Thomas has given us these extremists’ roadmap for taking away hard-fought rights like access to birth control and contraceptives, the right of same-sex marriage, and potentially many more now that the right to privacy has been dismantled with the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Like you, we’re angry. Horrified. Anxious. Deeply saddened.

We’ve shared too many tears about what the killing of Roe means for our country. Grandmothers have now experienced more rights than their granddaughters will. We know that making abortion illegal doesn’t end abortions, it only ends safe abortions.

But hopefully also like you, these zealots on the Supreme Court have ignited a fire in our bellies that will not soon be ignored. Hopefully like you, we’re focused. We’re energized. We’re ready for the fights that lie ahead.

Here’s the good news: abortion access remains legal in Illinois. But it will only remain so as long as Democrats have majorities in the General Assembly and a Democrat in the Governor’s Mansion. These same extremists who elected Donald Trump and got us this far-right Supreme Court are knocking on our doorstep. Trump-endorsed Darren Bailey will be taking on JB Pritzker in the General Election. The Republicans challenging Sen. Gillespie, Sen. Morrison, Rep. Walker, Rep. Carroll, and Mary Beth Canty all have supporters who donated funds to and worked for Donald Trump and the January 6th Insurrectionists. We cannot back down from the fight, because if they win, our pro-women, pro-LGBTQ, pro-labor, pro-basic human rights firewall could crumble.

So why march with us this weekend?

Because our neighbors need to know that Illinois will always stand with women as long as Democrats are elected. Because our families need to know that Illinois will always be a positive place to grow, live, and thrive as long as Democrats are elected. Because we know that, so long as zealots want to bring down every unpopular ruling under the sun, we will fight back as long as Democrats are elected.

Why march? Because when they go as low as humanly possible, we still go high.

We hope to see you on the parade routes.

Arlington Heights 4th of July Parade

As part of the annual Frontier Days celebration, WTDO and candidates will be marching in the Arlington Heights 4th of July Parade. Our entry is #40. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Dunton & Oakton streets, so please plan to be in the parade by 9:30 a.m. Wear candidate or WTDO swag if you have it! We’ll be handing out candy and American flags and encouraging parade-watchers to support their Democratic candidates!

Mount Prospect 4th of July Parade

After we’re finished with the Arlington Heights parade, we’ll be packing up and heading to Mount Prospect for their 4th of July parade. Our entry in this parade is #43. Plan to be at the staging area at Maple St. and Northwest Hwy. at 12:15 p.m. for staging.

If you’re interested in marching, please send an email to wheelingdemocrats@gmail.com or text or call 224-210-5651 so we have an appropriate headcount. We hope to see you there!