Old Lyme committee hosts public reading of the Declaration of Independence

Michelle Poirier, chairwoman of the Old Lyme America 250 Committee, opened a community reading of the Declaration of Independence in Old Lyme, explaining the town had scheduled its reading for 4 p.m. so residents could participate in volunteer civic duties beginning at 5 p.m.

Poirier said the event was part of nationwide 250th‑anniversary observances marking the first public readings of the Declaration in 1776. "This language and sentiment was wrong then and wrong today," she said, warning attendees that one grievance contains language offensive to Indigenous peoples and explaining the committee would present that passage "as originally written" so the historical record of those prejudices would not be erased.

Will Bradford, introduced by Poirier as an Old Lyme resident and president of the BB Griffin Noyes Library Board of Trustees, read the Declaration aloud for the assembled audience. Poirier thanked Bradford after the reading, calling the passage "quite powerful." The reading included several town volunteers; Poirier said Mikaela and Poirier herself read the list of grievances before Bradford concluded the document.

Organizers made copies of the Declaration available to attendees, and Poirier said a framed reproduction donated by the Sons of the American Revolution will be hung in the town clerk's office. The event concluded with refreshments in the common area.

The reading was presented as a community commemoration and did not include any formal votes or municipal actions.