July 4th 2022

Our world was rocked on the morning of July 4th by the tragedy in Highland Park. So many in our community are suffering. Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives or were injured, to everyone walking in or watching the parade, to everyone in the Moraine Dems community, and to victims and survivors of gun violence everywhere. Moraine Dems volunteers had just begun to move toward the parade route, holding our banner and bags of pencils and sunglasses to distribute to the children and families lining the parade route, when we heard shots and saw waves of people running toward us and away from the parade route.

We’re grateful that all of our volunteers and interns escaped physically unharmed, and we mourn the incalculable pain and loss shared by the entire Moraine Dems community. This Facebook post by Lauren Beth Gash, Chair of the Lake County Dems and Tenth Dems Founder, tells our story of that day. It’s quoted below, and here’s a link to the original post.

“The mass shooting at the Highland Park parade today was just so awful. Democrats had a large entry in the parade - lots of volunteers, interns, candidates and elected officials/maybe 60-ish people. We're all physically OK. I was in my decorated car. Banners for Tenth Dems, Lake Dems, Moraine Dems, and many candidates and elected officials were lined up and ready to start. Volunteers had bags of pencils and candy to give out. We were about to move (we were toward the middle of the parade) when we saw tons of folks running and heard what many described as pops. And folks started shouting, "Active shooter!" People started running away from the sounds and for shelter, like you see in the movies, only it was real life. While folks were fleeing the gunfire, our own Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg left us and ran in the other direction -- heroically running toward the danger.

I turned my car around, which was decorated with flags, Dem logos, and stars for the festive day ahead, and drove back to my house (a few blocks away) to drop off volunteers and interns. And I went back to shuttle more interns to the house so all were safe. Interns, parents, and volunteers sheltered together through the afternoon. What a day. So sad. Such a nightmare. It's unacceptable that our society would allow this type of tragedy to traumatize our communities over and over again. Gun violence prevention isn't partisan and isn't just a talking point. We need stronger gun laws. VOTE as if our lives depend on it. Because they do. #EnoughIsEnough #HighlandParkStrong”