My husband and I have been residents of Concord for eight years now, and we’re proud to honor the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with our town. However, as the national climate shifts, we’ve become increasingly concerned with the safety of our community as we invite the public to celebrate with us.
In recent years, the word “patriot” has taken on a sinister cast and become synonymous with insurrection and violence. The Gadsden flag has come to symbolize anti-government sentiment. Trappings of the American Revolution have been, and continue to be, repurposed in the service of challenging modern American democracy. The Executive Committee planning the 250th anniversary clearly seeks to celebrate the story of our nation — its journey to independence, its founding principle of civil liberty, its diversity.
I hope it is also preparing for visitors who would use this historic moment to rewrite what that story means.
Brooke King-Harris
Hawthorne Village
