April 23, 1982: Keys secede from Union, create Conch Republic
"This is only partly humorous. There's a great deal of anger in this town," said a participant of the Florida Keys' "secession" from the Union. Five days earlier, the federal government set up a roadblock south of Florida City to search cars for drugs and illegal immigrants. Traffic backed up 19 miles. When news spread, hundreds of tourists canceled hotel reservations because they didn't want to spend hours in a checkpoint traffic jam. So in one of the most unique protests ever staged, Mayor Dennis Wardlow declared the creation of "The Conch Republic," called himself Prime Minister, declared war on the United States by breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform, talked of minting "bubba bucks" for currency, then surrendered to the man in the Navy uniform and asked for $1 billion in federal aid.
"By establishing that border, they have declared us a foreign nation," Wardlow said. The federal government soon removed the checkpoint, but the idea of the "Conch Republic" lives on. The Keys celebrates its Independence Day each year on this date. The "Conch Republic" flag can be found for sale in many forms. Souvenir passports are issued. And the Republic has spoken out in protest several times regarding various issues in the Keys since 1982.
Read the story in the Palm Beach Post: Florida Keys 'Secede' from U.S. • Visit the official Conch Republic web site
Read the story in the Palm Beach Post: Florida Keys 'Secede' from U.S. • Visit the official Conch Republic web site