Local city councilman performs Declaration of Independence reading

The theme of freedom and independence circles around July 4th as well as celebrating the fight and victory for a democratic society.

Local Yuma City Councilman Mike Shelton has a true passion for everything the Declaration of Independence stands for.

People in the community gathered outside City Hall Wednesday morning to hear Shelton read the historical document.

“Most of them have never heard [it] before,” Shelton said.

“When America loses sight of the principles in the Declaration, it becomes a compass to show us where we ought to go…the Declaration today, ought to be a reminder of what America was founded upon and what we should stay true to,” Shelton added.

The Declaration is the most beautifully written political document that has had a lot of meaning for many different people, Shelton said.

The Declaration of Independence was the nation’s first formal statement aimed to assert the people’s right to make their own decisions about government.

Post-July 1776, the Declaration would be translated into almost every language.