ADHT Slave Trade Remembrance Proclamation
The African Diaspora Heritage Trail Foundation will mark the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition with a public proclamation on Saturday [August 23] at LiveNet Square in Hamilton.
A spokesperson said, “The African Diaspora Heritage Trail [ADHT] Foundation will commemorate the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition with a public proclamation on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at LiveNet headquarters, LiveNet Square, on the corner of Burnaby Street and Church Street.
“The ceremony, hosted in partnership with ADHT corporate partner LiveNet, begins at 12:30 p.m. and will include the formal reading of a proclamation acknowledging the the resilience of those who endured and resisted throughout the transatlantic slave trade, the long-lasting impact of this reprehensible event and Bermuda’s place in this global history.
“The ADHT Foundation is inviting the public to attend, show solidarity, and wear the Pan-African colors of red, black, or green. Following the proclamation, participants are encouraged to explore African Diaspora Heritage Trail landmarks throughout the City of Hamilton, including:
- ” The Sally Bassett Statue, honouring the enslaved woman whose courage made her a folk hero across the Caribbean.
- “Barr’s Bay Park, site of the 1835 liberation of 78 enslaved Africans from the schooner Enterprise.
- “Wesley Square, where the “When Voices Rise” statue commemorates the 1959 Theatre Boycott, a turning point in Bermuda’s civil rights history.”
“The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is a call to pause, to reflect, and to honour the millions of African men, women and children who were forcibly taken from their homeland, and those who resisted this exploitive race-based social and institutionalised injustice,” said a spokesperson for the ADHT Foundation. “By standing together in solidarity, we not only remember the past but commit to shaping a more just and equitable future.”
A spokesperson added, “UNESCO established this day of remembrance to commemorate the 1791 uprising in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti, which became a catalyst in the global fight to end enslavement in the British empire. Today, Bermuda joins nations around the world in observing the day, with its African Diaspora Heritage Trail recognized as part of UNESCO’s Slave Route Project.
“The ADHT Foundation encourages all Bermudians and visitors to take part in the commemoration, whether by attending the proclamation, visiting ADHT sites, or sharing the stories of resilience and resistance that shaped the island’s history.”
Event Details:
- What: ADHT Foundation Public Proclamation for International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
- When: Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at 12:30 p.m.
- Where: LiveNet Square, Burnaby Street & Church Street, Hamilton
- What to Wear: Red, black, or green to show solidarity
