New York, NY, June 27, 2025 – The Abolition Commemoration Day Committee is presenting its fourth Abolition Commemoration Day in NY program on Monday, July 14, 2024, in three boroughs: Brooklyn, Manhattan and The Bronx.
The programs showcase how abolitionists in New York State fought to end slavery. New York State legislation enacted a law on July 22, 2020, granting the second Monday of July as Abolition Commemoration Day. This is in memory of the Abolition Act that was passed by the state legislature on March 31, 1817. The tri-borough programs seek to inform everyone of this important holiday and piece of history that is not widely known.
Just like Opal Lee is the grandmother of Juneteenth, Bessie Jackson, NYS Director of ASALH is the grandmother of Abolition Commemoration Day. She advocated for sixteen years to make this a legally recognized holiday in the State of New York…