On 10 October 2004, the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project of the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality hosted a symposium on Gabriel’s Rebellion and the “Burial Ground for Negroes,” followed by the unveiling of the first state historical marker in Richmond honoring the great slave-rebellion leader Gabriel and, for the first time, officially marking the site of the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground.
This year, they held the 22nd Annual Gabriel Gathering, titled “Reclaiming Black Cemeteries – Reclaiming Resistance!” to honor Richmond’s historic Black cemeteries and unveil the second state historic marker, titled “Richmond’s First Municipal African Cemetery.”
At the 38:00 minute mark, Maurice Robinson of the Shaka Shakur Freedom Campaign – Virginia Chapter reads Shaka’s statement before the organizers play Shaka’s recording.
22nd Annual Gabriel Gathering
List of Speakers
- Libation: Pamela Bingham
- Land-People Acknowledgment: Madylenne
- Joseph Rogers, “Reclaiming Black Cemeteries is Resistance”
- Nat Turner Monologue, JRon Fleming
- Shaka Shakur’s Statement, “From Shockoe Bottom to Gabriel’s Rebellion and The Republic of New Afrika!” read by Maurice Robinson of the Shaka Shakur Freedom Campaign – Virginia Chapter
- Phil Wilayto, Virginia Defender
- Unveililing: Julie Langan, DHR
Audio, Video, and Lighting Event Production: Reclaiming the Monument.
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