Next to New Haven city hall there is a three-sided statue honoring the Amistad defendants.
An inscription on the base reads in part "On this site, the Amistad Africans were jailed awaiting trial for piracy and murder. To aid their struggle for freedom, the Amistad Committee formed counting in its number ministers Simeon locelyn, Joshua Leavitt and James Pennington; merchant Lewis Tappan; professor Josiah Gibbs: and lawyer Roger Baldwin.
"The Africans were tried twice prior to their ultimate triumph before the United States Supreme Court, where former President John Quincy Adams courageously defended them. Sengbe Pieh and his fellows were declared Free Persons. Then they returned to Sierra Leone."
1 comment:
The Amistad story is an amazing tale of cruelty and struggle for freedom. At least this time the story ends well.
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