Defend Truth Telling at National Parks

The Zinn Education Project has joined the America433+ coalition, led by the Resistance Rangers, to defend truth-telling at the 433 sites of the National Park Service. Other coalition members are Branch 4 and Race Forward Action Public School Strong. The coalition held a teach-in at Harpers Ferry on Juneteenth with speakers and an invitation to people of all ages to pledge to be a Junior Resistance Ranger and receive a Junior Resistance Ranger badge. One of the teach-in speakers was Ranger Elizabeth, who worked at Harpers Ferry for years trying to get the stories of the Black raiders told with an exhibit that has been “under construction” since 2019. The event received national coverage on NPR, MSNow, and more outlets. To bring this information to the classroom, check out a story collection and data visualization by Amy Qin and Flávio Pessoa in The Guardian called ‘A sanitized view of America’: inside Trump’s campaign to erase US history from national parks. Here is an excerpt, Often heralded as “America’s best idea”, national parks are the closest thing the country has to sacred lands. What many may not realize, however, is that US history — not just nature — is at the heart of the visitor experience at most of the 433 parks, historic sites and monuments in the NPS system. But over the past year and a half, this history has been under attack, as the Trump administration has raced to reconstruct a version of US history they prefer . . . The Guardian spent months reviewing thousands of images, files and documentation while talking to current and former NPS employees to understand how the Trump administration has attempted to rewrite hundreds of years of US history. This is the story of how they nearly did it — removing scores of signs across the country — and the scars this censorship campaign has left on the country’s beloved NPS. Join the Junior Resistance Ranger Summer Challenge This summer, the America433+ coalition invites people of all ages and across all 50 states and territories to become Junior Resistance Rangers by exploring the stories that make our public lands — and our democracy — worth protecting. Visit one of the 433+ National Park Service sites (or another public land near you), complete the Junior Resistance Ranger activities, take the pledge, and share a photo of your adventure. Our goal is ambitious: we want every one of the 50 states and territories represented. Here’s how to participate: - Sign up for free access to download the Junior Resistance Ranger booklet. - Visit one of the 433+ National Park Service sites or a nearby public park. - Take the Junior Resistance Ranger pledge. - Snap a photo of you, your family, or your class with your JR RR booklet at the park site! (Or just your hand holding the booklet at the park site if you prefer to be anonymous.) - Post on social media with hashtags: #JrResistanceRangers #America433 - Upload your high-resolution photo to this form. We’ll send you an official Junior Resistance Ranger badge! More ways to engage: Visit the America433+ website to find a petition, letter-writing campaign, and events. The Resistance Rangers website offers booklets from two National Park Service sites (Arlington House and Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home) which the rangers are not allowed to distribute under this administration. You can challenge censorship by downloading, reading, and sharing them. Twitter Google plus LinkedIn