Boston Tea Party turns 250 with reenactments of protest

Boston: On Saturday, December 16, Boston witnessed a resurgence of patriotic crowds and a reenactment of the historic harbour tea-dumping event, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the revolutionary protest that paved the way for America's independence.

The observance of the Boston Tea Party 250th anniversary involved planned reenactments of the tea-throwing incident into the city's harbour and community gatherings reminiscent of the events leading up to the defiant act on December 16, 1773. However, in this instance, the symbolic protest was enhanced with spotlights and microphones. City authorities anticipated the attendance of thousands of visitors for the festive celebration.

Spectators who assembled to witness the reenactment promptly joined in, enthusiastically shouting "Huzzah!" in unison with the costumed actors, as crates of tea were cast into the harbour. Subsequently, they vehemently booed an actor delivering King George III's order to close the bay. Cheers erupted as narrators recounted the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

The tea used for the reenactment was provided by the East India Company, the very same British company that played a central role in the tumultuous dispute.

In the historic event, fueled by opposition to "taxation without representation," individuals from the Sons of Liberty and other groups boarded ships belonging to the East India Company. They discarded valuable cargo, amounting to approximately 92,000 pounds (41,700 kilograms) of tea, with a present-day value of nearly $2 million, into the murky waters of Boston Harbor.

In response, Great Britain implemented military rule and imposed additional sanctions on Massachusetts, further fueling American resistance to colonial governance.

The Boston Tea Party is acknowledged as a crucial incident that played a role in triggering the American Revolutionary War.

"It serves as a reminder to people worldwide, not just within the United States, that democracy is a living concept: taking action for what is just, regardless of the challenges, for our friends, families, homes, and future," remarked Boston Mayor Michelle Wu during a news conference on Friday, providing a preview of the anniversary.

With inputs from AP.