A Nantucket church has canceled its annual Fourth of July reading of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, citing an ongoing effort to better understand "our own whiteness" and the historical application of constitutional rights.
The historic Nantucket Unitarian Meeting House had hosted a public reading of America's founding documents in downtown Nantucket each year for 25 years. The church's decision comes as communities across the country prepare for events tied to America's upcoming semiquincentennial celebrations, the nation's 250th anniversary.
Nantucket, an exclusive Massachusetts island, attracts celebrities, millionaires and billionaires during the summer season. Former President Joe Biden and his family have visited the island almost every year for decades to celebrate Thanksgiving with relatives.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics were quick to express opposition on social media platforms, arguing that the church's decision reflects discomfort among some progressive voices with celebrating America's founding ahead of its 250th anniversary.
"Nothing says 'inclusive' like canceling a national holiday," wrote one user on X. Another poster responded: "Someone needs to tell this nitwit that over 600,000 white men died in the battle to end slavery in this country by the way, the only country that decisively fought to end slavery."
Other commenters pointed to Nantucket's status as a wealthy enclave. "If you know anything about Nantucket, you know that's where the rich, privileged people live," posted one X user. Conservative commentators have argued that such decisions represent a broader pattern of reluctance among some institutions to celebrate the nation's founding.
What the Left Is Saying
In a letter published by the Nantucket Current, church leaders wrote that the decision reflects ongoing conversations within the congregation about race, privilege and historical inequities. Rev. Erin Splaine of the Second Congregational Meeting House Society explained the reasoning in the statement.
"For those of us who are white the experience of the Rights and Privileges conferred by the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States have, for centuries, been tragically, often violently, and unequally applied to fellow citizens who are not white," the letter stated. "Our cancelling the 4th of July celebration this year reflects an on-going process within the congregation to better understand our own whiteness."
Church leaders said they would not engage with concerned community members through social media, directing those with questions to schedule appointments instead. "Social media is not the place for important, tender conversations," the letter stated.
What the Numbers Show
The reading at the Unitarian Meeting House had taken place annually for 25 years, according to church records and local promotional materials. The island's chamber of commerce had previously promoted the event on social media as a community gathering open to all residents and visitors.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church announced it would host an alternative reading of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights following the cancellation announcement. "We may not be there yet but we felt it was important to gather together and try to live up to the promises our country has made," said St. Paul's Rev. Max Wolf, describing the founding documents as "aspirational."
The semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since American independence in 1776, is scheduled for July 4, 2026.
The Bottom Line
While the Nantucket church's decision represents one congregation's approach to racial equity discussions, it has drawn national attention amid broader debates over how America's founding documents should be commemorated. St. Paul's Episcopal Church has stepped in to preserve the tradition on the island. Fox News Digital reached out to both the Nantucket Unitarian Meeting House and Biden's office for additional comment but had not received responses by publication time.