A Potent Force: The Liberty Tree Flag & The Spirit of American Protest
When:
Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023 6:30p -
7:30p
Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023 6:30p -
7:30p
Where:
Online event
Admission:
FREE
Hosted by:
Categories:
History, Lectures & Conferences, Virtual
Event website:
https://www.revolutionaryspaces.org/potent-force/
Join Revolutionary Spaces, Ford Hall Forum, and GBH Forum Network on March 14 as we unearth a treasure from our expansive collection, the iconic Liberty Tree Flag, and explore the great American tradition of protest. Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, which ignited from the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House, we will examine how this artifact relates to protest and the fight for freedom in its time, connecting it to our broader understanding of American history.
Revolutionary Spaces Collections Manager Lori Erickson will showcase the Liberty Tree Flag and discuss the artifact, which was used to mark the Liberty Tree as a site of memory that symbolized the power of protest. Almost every subsequent protest in Revolutionary Boston genuflected in some way to the Liberty Tree. Later, the flag was brought out at anti-slavery meetings and feminist meetings as a reminder of the power of protest to make change.
We’ll then be joined by esteemed professor and award-winning author Robert David “KC” Johnson to explore the history of American protest movements, from colonial to present day. The program will conclude with an audience Q&A.
This essential virtual program will provide context for future programs at Revolutionary Spaces and other institutions throughout the anniversary year of the Boston Tea Party, as we grapple with the notion of protest in our midst.
This program is made possible through the generous support of the Lowell Institute.
