| On Saturday we attended the Key West Drag | | | | the United States. One minute later he marched |
| Racing event on Duval street. It kicks off a week | | | | up to a Navy Official and surrendered the war, |
| long independence celebration. The story goes like | | | | demanding one Billion dollars in financial aid for the |
| this... | | | | Conch Republic. They did not get a billion dollars, |
| In 1982 The United States set up a road blockade | | | | but they did get the blockade removed. |
| on U.S. Highway 1 just south of Florida city | | | | Though the one minute war is long past and the |
| entering the keys, to prevent illegal immigrants | | | | keys are part of the US they also remain The |
| from getting to the mainland of Florida. As a | | | | Conch Republic as well, having duel citizenship in |
| result, citizens of the keys were forced to stop | | | | the keys and on the mainland. In fact, they have |
| at this blockade and prove their citizenship before | | | | Conch Republic passports which are accepted in |
| traveling onto the mainland. Being US citizens, they | | | | many countries. |
| felt this was an outrage and a violation of their | | | | So, with that said, there is an annual celebration |
| rights. This also hurt the tourism industry in the | | | | commemorating the brave efforts of the Conch |
| keys, as it slowed traffic significantly on the only | | | | Republic, and their independence. The Key West |
| road to and from the keys to mainland Florida. | | | | Drag Races are drag races as only Key West can |
| On April 23rd 1982, Mayor Wardlow went to | | | | have them. |
| court in Miami to convince the US to remove the | | | | Drag Queens decked out in their finest, compete |
| blockade. He was unsuccessful. As court let out, | | | | on an obstacle course on Duval Street, as |
| and Wardlow made his way down the steps, in | | | | hundreds of onlookers cheer them on. The first |
| front of a crowd and media cameras he declared | | | | event we witnessed was a lipsync dance |
| that if residents of the keys were not going to | | | | performance by each of the contestants, which |
| be treated as US citizens, then they would no | | | | we can describe with one word... FABULOUS! |
| longer be US citizens, they would secede from | | | | Following the performances, the obstacle races |
| the Union and become their own nation. | | | | resume, consisting of sweat, high heels, lipstick, big |
| At noon the next day, the people gathered at | | | | hair, a military style tire obstacle, road cones, |
| Mallory Square in Key West as Mayor (and now | | | | shopping carts, a dream of victory, and lots of |
| Prime Minister) Wardlow gave a speech of | | | | cheering and people having a blast for a good |
| independence to the newly seceded CONCH | | | | cause. The event is also a fundraiser for AIDS |
| REPUBLIC. He then symbolically broke a loaf of | | | | help. So if you ever find yourself in Key West in |
| stale Cuban bread over the head of a man | | | | April prepare yourself for a fun ride for a good |
| dressed as a US Navy official, declaring war on | | | | cause and let the drag racing begin. |