The North Brookfield Board of Selectmen are endangering the health of the community they've sworn to serve. Their decision, to instill the First Annual Independence Day Festival, in the middle of a pandemic that has claimed more than 128,000 lives, disrespects the concept of patriotism being used to justify the event. 

The Board of Selectmen noted that they felt they had the "ultimate authority" to make the decision. This seizing of power from the recommendations of the Board of Health to carry out a short-sighted, reactionary, and dangerous course of action will not be tolerated by the community. It is a usurpation of the Democratic process these folks are attempting to glorify, and an insult to the townspeople.

If the demonstration receives backlash, Selectmen stated that they would retroactively alter the nature of the celebration to a "protest". This deeply disrespects the work of actual organizers who congregated to protect black lives, and defrauds the movement. The Board does not have the right to change their rules when the please. They do not have the right to retroactively disguise themselves as a protest. 

The Selectmen's decision is a slap in the face to the concept of patriotism that serves a personal desire for gratification. Their uncompromising seize of power resembles the monarchs our country declared independence against. 

We demand that the Board of Selectmen recognize this gross misuse of power, change their minds, and postpone the event to a time when the contagious threat of COVID-19 does not pose the chance of decimating a majority-elderly community.