Civil War Historian and over 300 Others Write to National Park Service About Differential Treatment of Demonstrators

A civil war historian from Oklahoma, Dr. Jennifer M. Murray, has written to Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) Superintendent Steve Sims to protest the treatment of her advocacy group after they demonstrated in the park on July 18.

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The letter was cosigned by over 300 other people from around the country and can be viewed here.

Murray said her demonstration, which included about 40 people, was a “peaceful, respectful, and historically accurate response to the shameful display exhibited by partisan groups on Independence Day.”

In her letter Murray said “visitors to Gettysburg on July 4, 2020, saw Trump flags draped over the walls of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and Confederate battle flags displayed throughout.”

“You (Sims) allowed the Soldiers’ National Cemetery to become a playground for partisan display,” said Murray.

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July 18 Demonstrators in their Assigned “Corral”

Murray said she and her fellow demonstrators “refused to be silent” in the face of the July 4 events and organized a demonstration at GNMP on July 18. Murray said she applied for and received a First Amendment permit for a designated space at Meade’s Headquarters, just north of old Meade Avenue between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

After the event concluded, Murray said some of the demonstrators then walked north into the Soldiers’ National Cemetery to pay respects to the Union dead. In the cemetery, Murray said a National Park ranger informed her that her group had violated their First Amendment permit by leaving their designated “corral” area and by displaying signs in the cemetery.

Murray said the group was not displaying their signs at that point – that the signs were rolled up and carried under their arms.

Murray said her group was then “evicted from the Soldiers’ National Cemetery by three GNMP patrol cars.”

Murray asked Sims to conduct a review of the events of both July 4 and July 18 and offered to open a dialogue with GNMP leadership.

Murray said she had not yet heard back from Sims.

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Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.

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