Because the Trump administration continues to implement anti-diversity insurance policies and whitewash American historical past, it seems that this marketing campaign has unfold abroad. One historian on social media has highlighted the administration’s elimination of a European monument honoring Black troopers who fought in World Warfare II.
Plaques honoring Black troopers faraway from American cemetery within the Netherlands
Newsweek, referencing protection from Dutch-language media, reported that plaques honoring Black troopers who fought for the USA throughout World Warfare II had been faraway from the Netherlands American Cemetery, a U.S. navy cemetery in Margraten, close to town of Maastricht. Over 8,000 People, together with 174 Black troopers, are buried on the website. Two panels commemorating Black troopers had been added to the cemetery in 2024 on the urging of Shefali Razdan Duggal, who served as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands on the time. Nonetheless, these panels had been eliminated “earlier this summer time,” in accordance with the Black Liberators analysis challenge. One of many eliminated panels mentioned the segregated situations underneath which Black troopers served throughout World Warfare II; the opposite highlighted George H. Pruitt, who died in Germany at age 23 whereas making an attempt to rescue one other soldier.
Conservative U.S. suppose tank complaints preceded elimination
Social media person @ChrisO_wiki, self-described as an “impartial navy historical past creator and researcher,” introduced consideration to the change on social media.
In a collection of posts which have gained over 1 million views, ChrisO_wiki famous, “The US Authorities has quietly eliminated a memorial to Black troopers who died in World Warfare II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The transfer follows a criticism from the right-wing Heritage Basis to the American Battle Monuments Fee.”
Dutch Information confirmed that the right-wing Heritage Basis complained earlier this yr that the American Battle Monuments Fee violated President Donald Trump’s anti-diversity orders, and the commemorative plaques had been subsequently eliminated. Many of the 15 political events in Limburg province, the place the cemetery is situated, have signed a letter requesting a brief or everlasting alternative for the eliminated panels.
Trump and the Heritage Basis push a right-wing agenda
The elimination of the panels from the American navy cemetery is consistent with the insurance policies of the Trump administration. Since returning to the White Home, Trump has issued government orders banning or curbing range, fairness and inclusion efforts. Amongst different impacts, the orders have been adopted by the elimination or censorship of info referring to Black historical past at numerous parks and museums, in addition to the censorship of Black historical past within the U.S. navy. The Heritage Basis, in the meantime, is the influential conservative suppose tank that has lengthy impacted Republican insurance policies and is chargeable for Mission 2025, an enormous plan to restructure the U.S. authorities and society. Regardless of beforehand claiming to know nothing in regards to the plan, Trump has since carried out a lot of Mission 2025 after returning to workplace in January.
Now, it appears that evidently the attain of the Heritage Basis and the Trump administration’s anti-diversity efforts has prolonged to Europe. With the administration and its conservative supporters persevering with their efforts to whitewash American historical past, Dutch media and politicians are taking over the reason for remembering Black troopers who served and died for the USA throughout World Warfare II.
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