America 433+ Teach-In at Harpers Ferry

On Juneteenth, America 433+ will gather at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park—a place that embodies the ongoing struggle for freedom, democracy, and justice in America. This Teach-In is a community gathering that reclaims the story of “freedom” as something broader, more inclusive, and still evolving. Harpers Ferry National Historic Site is a crucial place for this event. Not only is John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry one of the most important events in American History and seen by many as the first act of the Civil War, as a historic site it has had a long history of telling controversial and incomplete versions of that story.

The Teach-In will feature speakers, writing postcards to representatives, children’s activities, and more.  Park visitors and community stakeholders alike will be invited to learn about the history that is in danger and given the means to take action.

The event will also feature Ranger Elizabeth, who worked at Harpers Ferry for years trying to get the stories of the Black raiders told. Some of her work has been censored, which she will share with the public that visit on Juneteenth.

America 433+ takes its name from the more than 433 locations that make up the National Parks system, from historic sites and battlefields to monuments, seashores, and national parks. The campaign shines a light on the full network of public lands and institutions that preserve our nation’s history, science, and cultural heritage, and affirms that these places should reflect the richness, complexity, and diversity of the American experience.

America 433+ brings together Resistance Rangers, Branch 4, Race Forward Action and Public School Strong, and the Zinn Education Project — a collaboration between Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change — in a shared effort to defend the public’s right to know. Together, these partners unite current and former federal workers, educators, civil rights advocates, parents, and community organizers to confront the censorship, distortion, and erasure of public history, climate science, civil rights education, and Indigenous knowledge.