D. Hamilton Jackson sculpture in Grove Place. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM
The baton has been passed for organizers of the annual Liberty Day celebrations which pay homage to David Hamilton Jackson, famed labor leader and advocate for a free press.
Usually held on November 1, this year the event was postponed due to weather concerns. The rescheduled observation took place at its usual venue - D. Hamilton Jackson Park. At the scaled down event, organizer Raymond Williams told the crowd that it was time to hand over to new leadership.
Next year’s celebrations, Mr. Williams said, would be organized and led by a team of vibrant young Virgin Islanders, to ensure the continuation of the important observance – popularly known as “Bull & Bread Day” – for years to come.
D. Hamilton Jackson, born September 28, 1884, advocated for increased civil rights, and championed democratic ideals through his fight for a free press. Mr. Jackson successfully petitioned the Danish government to repeal a law which censored publications in the territory and banned independent newspapers. After the law was repealed, the historical icon returned home to establish the first free newspaper in the then Danish West Indies. He went on to found the territory’s first trade union, and fought to have Denmark relinquish the islands to the United States.
After the territory became a U.S. possession in 1917, Mr. Jackson lobbied for its inhabitants to be granted U.S. citizenship.
