Nationwide — The Maryland National Guard has canceled its participation in the annual Frederick Douglass birthday parade, following new orders from the Trump administration to stop supporting Black History Month events.According to Military.com, the Guard will not provide a flyover, band, or troops for the “Operation Frederick Douglass on the Hill,” which celebrates the abolitionist’s 207th birthday.
The decision comes after a memo from the Maryland National Guard’s Joint Operations Center on February 7th. The memo stated, “Since this event is organized as part of a Black History Month celebration, the Maryland National Guard cannot support. In accordance with the new guidance, the Maryland National Guard must decline events which celebrates [sic] individuals based all or in part on immutable characteristics.”
Douglass, born in February 1818, was a former slave who became one of the nation’s most influential abolitionists and civil rights leaders. He died on February 20, 1895. The parade, traditionally held yearly to honor his legacy, will proceed without the National Guard’s support this year. The Massachusetts National Guard, which took part last year, also declined this time.
Tarence Bailey Sr., a descendant of Douglass and president of the event’s organizing foundation, expressed his disappointment, saying it was a disservice to Douglass’ contributions to the nation.
“Basically, what the DoD said is, ‘We’re not doing that. He’s Black and this is February so, no,'” Bailey said. “You’re discrediting everything — all of the work he did for this nation not as a Black man but as an American… They should really be ashamed of themselves.”
Moreover, the cancellation follows other military decisions to step back from minority-focused events, including ending its recruitment efforts from a prestigious Black engineering event in Baltimore, despite a long-standing relationship.