A policy under the Trump administration compelled the Maryland National Guard to decline an invitation to partake in a February 22 event in honor of renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Per WBOC, the event in question was set to be held for the third straight year, and the National Guard has been involved in those past celebrations. The event organizers had even wanted more resources and involvement from the National Guard at this year’s celebrations after a few soldiers partook in the 2024 parade.
“We requested a flyover, which was a Black Hawk, the marching band, and some tactical vehicles,” Tarence Bailey, who is the event organizer and Douglass’ fifth-generation nephew, disclosed.
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But Bailey said the Maryland National Guard sent him a memo to decline their invitation. “Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Maryland Military Department’s participation in Operation Fredrick Douglass on the Hill, 207 Birthday Celebration, on February 22, 2025. The Maryland National Guard is unable to support the event for a flyover, Band, Military Vehicles, and Troop Presence,” the memo states.
The National Guard explained that it is currently “precluded from using federal resources, including man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months, including National African American Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month.”
The memo also made mention of a Department of Defense guidance that was published on January 31, 2025. “I was angry, especially as a former guardsman. I deployed with the National Guard,” Bailey said in response to the National Guard declining the invitation.
Bailey explained that the National Guard was supposed to play an indispensable role in the parade, so its decision to opt out of participation had left him with no resort but to call it off, WBOC reported. He, however, said he was not going to point fingers at the National Guard over its decision.
“If Trump had not been elected, we’d be all clamoring to get to the parade Saturday,” Bailey said.
But the first chairwoman of the Talbot County Republican Party, Shari Wilcoxon, sided with the directive. “You know, for parades for certain, diverse groups are not what the military’s about. They’re war fighters. And we need to trim our budgets in every place that there is, and this is one,” Wilcoxon said.
Though the parade will not take place, Bailey said other aspects of the event will still go ahead as they’re going to have musical performances at the Avalon Theatre and also host a VIP dinner at the Waterfowl Building.
READ ALSO: Discover how Frederick Douglass became the most photographed man of his time
