🇺🇸 A Fairburn Fourth: Honoring Our Freedom, Our Veterans, and Our Future 🇺🇸By Councilwoman Samantha Hudson

As we gather this Independence Day, I invite every resident of Fairburn to pause, reflect, and recommit to the ideals that make our nation — and our city — truly great.

The Fourth of July is more than fireworks and flags. It is a sacred reminder of our shared American identity — forged through struggle, secured through sacrifice, and sustained through unity. Our patriotism is not reserved for a single party or a single group. It belongs to all of us — from every background, every neighborhood, every generation.

We especially honor the veterans of Fairburn, whose courage has ensured that the freedoms we celebrate today endure. These brave men and women wore the uniform not for recognition or reward, but because they believed in the power of liberty, dignity, and duty. Their service is a mirror for how our local government must serve: with honor, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to every resident.

Today, let us embrace not only our nation’s independence but our city’s potential. True freedom isn’t just found in a document or a speech — it’s lived in our everyday experience. Freedom is having access to clean water, safe streets, quality utilities, and neighborhoods free from environmental hazards. It is the right to speak truth to power, to expect integrity from our leaders, and to demand better when our community is ignored or underserved.

The American flag we fly this week does not just wave for tradition — it represents accountability. It reminds us that the government is not above the people but of the people. In Fairburn, that must mean policies rooted in truth, leadership driven by justice, and decisions made with the community — not behind closed doors.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident..." These words were not written for comfort; they were written for courage. And today, we must be courageous enough to face hard truths — about neglect, inequality, and a lack of transparency — and fix them. We must build a Fairburn that doesn’t just celebrate freedom on holidays but practices it every day.

As we celebrate this nation’s founding, we must also acknowledge the paradox it presents. The architects of American liberty — Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, and others — declared liberty as a sacred right, even while denying that freedom to millions through slavery. Their vision was bold but incomplete. It has taken generations of struggle — led by enslaved Africans, abolitionists, Black freedom fighters, and civil rights leaders — to expand that freedom to those who were never meant to share in it. We honor that struggle by refusing to forget it.

And as we reflect, we must honor the Black lives — past and present — who have always understood the seriousness of the fight for freedom. From the enslaved who resisted bondage, to the soldiers of the U.S. Colored Troops, to civil rights leaders and everyday citizens who continue to raise their voices for justice, Black Americans have been at the heart of the struggle to make this nation live up to its ideals.

Today, we carry their legacy forward. We are not outsiders to the American story — we are its backbone. Our contributions, our resilience, and our brilliance are woven into the very fabric of this country. Let us embrace our heritage — not just as descendants of struggle, but as rightful heirs to freedom, and full American citizens entitled to the same dignity, opportunity, and respect as anyone else.

Freedom is not a favor. It is our birthright. And together, as Fairburn residents, we must ensure that nothing — not injustice, neglect, or silence — stands in the way of that promise.

Let us remember:

• Freedom is not simply granted — it is guarded.

• Civility is not weakness — it is wisdom.

• Patriotism is not pride — it is purpose.

As we enjoy parades and picnics this week, let us also recommit to creating a Fairburn worthy of the flag we salute. One where all residents — regardless of ZIP code or income — have the right to thrive in dignity.

This Independence Day, I stand not only as your Councilwoman but as your neighbor. I believe in a Fairburn that tells the truth, serves the people, and uplifts every voice. Let us be proud — not just of where we are — but of what we’re building together.

May God bless Fairburn, and may God bless the United States of America.

In truth and service,

Councilwoman Samantha Hudson

Fairburn City Council