Nationwide — The Maryland Nationwide Guard has canceled its participation within the annual Frederick Douglass birthday parade, following new orders from the Trump administration to cease supporting Black Historical past Month occasions.
Based on Navy.com, the Guard won’t present a flyover, band, or troops for the “Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill,” which celebrates the abolitionist’s 207th birthday.
The choice comes after a memo from the Maryland Nationwide Guard’s Joint Operations Middle on February seventh. The memo said, “Since this occasion is organized as a part of a Black Historical past Month celebration, the Maryland Nationwide Guard can’t assist. In accordance with the brand new steerage, the Maryland Nationwide Guard should decline occasions which celebrates [sic] people based mostly all or partly on immutable traits.”
Douglass, born in February 1818, was a former slave who grew to become one of many nation’s most influential abolitionists and civil rights leaders. He died on February 20, 1895. The parade, historically held yearly to honor his legacy, will proceed with out the Nationwide Guard’s assist this 12 months. The Massachusetts Nationwide Guard, which took half final 12 months, additionally declined this time.
Tarence Bailey Sr., a descendant of Douglass and president of the occasion’s organizing basis, expressed his disappointment, saying it was a disservice to Douglass’ contributions to the nation.
“Mainly, what the DoD stated is, ‘We’re not doing that. He’s Black and that is February so, no,’” Bailey stated. “You’re discrediting every little thing — all the work he did for this nation not as a Black man however as an American… They need to actually be ashamed of themselves.”
Furthermore, the cancellation follows different navy choices to step again from minority-focused occasions, together with ending its recruitment efforts from a prestigious Black engineering occasion in Baltimore, regardless of a long-standing relationship.
