Martin Luther King Junior Day and Juneteenth have been stripped of their fee-free entry at National Parks. National parks are meant to be a place that shows the beauty of Mother Nature. So why has the free admission on historically significant holidays been replaced by a personal agenda? This change is not a simple tweak, it is a deliberate attempt to diminish the celebration of American civil rights.
According to CBS News, the American civil rights movement is one of the most studied topics in America. Now, the symbolism of the celebrations that Americans have fought tirelessly for is being treated with disrespect.
If anyone deserves a holiday in his name, it’s Martin Luther King Jr., whose peaceful advocacy for racial equality impacted millions of lives. MLK Jr. Day is a day of service where thousands of people volunteer across the nation to honor his memory. Juneteenth is no different. Perhaps the most important American civil rights holiday, this celebration marks the end of slavery in the US, as well as symbolizing Black Americans’ hard-won fight for equality in the 19th century. Almost two centuries later, there are countless festivals and parties in the honor of the people that fought for their freedoms. Taking away the fee-free entry on these holidays will anger people who connect with the civil rights movements.
The newly added holidays with fee-free NPS benefits are Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day weekend, Constitution Day, and Flag Day, which is also President Donald J. Trump’s birthday. You may not see many problems with the newly benefitted holidays, other than the controversial addition of President Donald J. Trump’s birthday. According to USA Today, “President Donald Trump has made rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion a key priority of his second administration.” President Trump’s change is a key reason why some people are troubled by this change. Many American citizens have spoken out against President Trump because they believe he has made selfish decisions. The approval of this measure by the government majority shows a history of controversy and foreshadows future conflict. However, removing the fee-free status from holidays honoring the struggle for civil rights adds an undeniable ideological insult.
Though the addition of these other holidays may be a step in the right direction, I see absolutely no reason why the government should remove MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth from NPS’ fee-free list. I hope that the government brings fee-free benefits back to MLK Jr. Day and Juneteenth in the future.
