Key facts
- A U.S. Coast Guard-escorted parade in New York Harbor for the nation's 250th anniversary removed an environmental group's vessel.
- The vessel, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, was removed for displaying banners related to the Clean Water Act and Indigenous rights.
- The Coast Guard cited an agreement among participants to avoid politically charged messages.
- The environmental group disputed the characterization of its message and the interaction with the Coast Guard.
- The event was part of celebrations organized by Freedom 250, a group established by the Trump administration.
The U.S. Coast Guard removed a vessel belonging to the environmental group Hudson River Sloop Clearwater from a parade in New York Harbor celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. The Coast Guard stated the ship displayed "politically charged" messages, including banners that read "Save the Clean Water Act" and "Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions," which violated an agreement among participants to refrain from such displays.
The Coast Guard reported that the owner of the sloop was asked to remove the messages or leave the parade, and they declined to remove them. However, Jen Benson, director of advocacy and communications at Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, disputed this account. She stated the Coast Guard did not ask for the messages to be taken down but instead requested the ship leave the sailing route or face arrest. Benson argued that advocating for clean water is not a politically charged message.
The Sail4th 250 parade was one of several events organized by Freedom 250, a group established by the Trump administration to plan the country's 250th anniversary celebrations. The parade featured over 40 tall ships from 20 different countries, sailing through New York Harbor.