A ship owned by the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater environmental organization was forced out of the Sail4th 250 parade in New York Harbor on Saturday. The ship had banners that read, ‘Save the Clean Water Act’ and ‘Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions’.
The U.S. Coast Guard said participants in the event had agreed to refrain from displaying political or politically charged messages or statements. The Coast Guard enforced this agreement on behalf of Sail4th, asking the ship’s owner to remove the messages or leave the parade.
Jen Benson, director of advocacy and communications at Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, disputed the claim. She said the Coast Guard did not ask for the messages to be taken down but instead requested the ship leave the sailing route or risk arrest.
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s mission is to protect the Hudson River by stewarding an intergenerational community of river advocates through education, advocacy, sailing, and music.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
