Conch Republic Celebration 2013
Every year during the third week in April, Key West celebrates the Conch Republic Days. It all started back in April of 1982 when the United States Border Patrol decided to place a road block on US Highway 1 just South of Florida City. Since this was the only road in and out of the Florida Keys it really put a crimp on the local economy. They were stopping traffic in both directions, check identification, searching cars and generally doing what they wanted. Since this was the US Border Patrol and not the County Sheriff or the local or state police they had essentially created a border between the mainland of the United States and the Florida Keys. The Mayor at the time, Dennis Wardlow went to the Border Patrol and pleaded with them, but to no avail. He even tried to get an injunction but the Dade and Monroe country courts had no jurisdiction over the Federal government. Key West has always had reputation for going its own way ...
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