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HomeNewsLocal governmentLegislature to Host Public African Liberation Day Celebration May 25

Legislature to Host Public African Liberation Day Celebration May 25

During a ceremony at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, red, black and green will fly over the grounds of the Legislature’s Capitol Building on St. Thomas in celebration of African Liberation Day in the territory. The public is invited to attend the activities, which will be broadcast on LEGIT TV via Channel 17 on St. Thomas-St. John or Channel 5 on St. Croix on Innovative Cable.

The program will recognize African Liberation Day and African Heritage Week. Activities will begin with a ceremonial flag-raising outdoors on the Legislature Grounds before moving inside to the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall for a program that will include music, dance, speeches and poetry.

“This is an opportunity for us to celebrate and observe and have a better understanding of the dynamics that shaped our history as African people who made contributions to global society and found themselves enslaved in the New World institution of slavery,” Senate President Myron D. Jackson said. “We should recognize our building of New World societies and our continued struggle for self-determination and economic and social advancement.”

In the Virgin Islands, it became a territorial observance with the passage of Act. No. 5473 (Bill No. 18-0147) on Nov. 3, 1989, proclaiming the Third Week in May, African Heritage Week. African Liberation Day is officially celebrated around the world on May 25.

The proclamation, inspired by the work of the Afrikaan Appraisal Workshop and other community groups, recognizes that most of the territory’s population descends from African This year’s theme is “Raising the Consciousness of African Youth Through Enlightenment, Empowerment, Culture and Organization for Liberty and Dignity.” For more information, call 693-3519.

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