A decision by a Nantucket church to cancel its annual Fourth of July observance has sparked controversy after its minister cited concerns about race, American history, and a recent Supreme Court ruling as reasons for stepping away from the longtime tradition.
Rev. Erin Splaine of the Second Congregational Meeting House Society, a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Nantucket, announced that the church would not hold its customary Independence Day events this year. Those events have traditionally included public readings of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, ceremonies that have long been associated with the community’s Fourth of July celebrations.
In a letter published by the Nantucket Current, Splaine explained that the decision was driven largely by concerns over a recent Supreme Court ruling and what she described as ongoing inequalities in how America’s founding principles are applied.
Wtf. Erin Splaine, the “Reverend” of the woke Unitarian Universalist Church in Nantucket, just canceled July 4th celebrations because White people are “privileged” and honoring American history “perpetuates the harm, injustice, and anti-democratic process.”
She then forbids… pic.twitter.com/uv9SDih7gn
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 29, 2026
According to Splaine, the rights and freedoms celebrated in the nation’s founding documents have not been experienced equally by all Americans. She argued that many of the protections and privileges associated with those documents have historically been enjoyed differently by white Americans than by citizens from other racial backgrounds.
As a result, she wrote that celebrating the nation’s founding without broader historical context risks perpetuating injustice and ignoring uncomfortable realities. The church’s leadership concluded that continuing the event in its traditional form was inconsistent with ongoing discussions taking place within the congregation.
Splaine also noted that the church has been engaged in what she described as an ongoing effort to better understand issues surrounding race and identity. In her letter, she referenced the congregation’s work to examine its own “whiteness” and to deepen its understanding of American history beyond the stories typically emphasized during patriotic celebrations.
The announcement immediately attracted attention because the cancellation involves one of the most recognizable civic traditions in the country. Reading the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July is a ritual observed in communities across America, making the decision stand out far beyond the small island community.
Splaine urged those who disagree with the decision to contact the church directly rather than engage through social media. She argued that online platforms are poorly suited for what she described as important and sensitive conversations.
The congregation is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association and is listed as an LGBTQ-welcoming congregation. According to the church’s website, the denomination emphasizes diversity of belief and does not require members to abandon other religious affiliations or practices.
Whether the move is viewed as a thoughtful attempt to reexamine American history or an unnecessary rejection of a longstanding patriotic tradition, the decision has already generated significant discussion.
