Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission to receive visitors from the Republic of Benin

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL Richmond City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond, VA 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED Thursday 14 June 2012 Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission to receive visitors from the Republic of Benin Will visit Richmond City Hall and Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue: One of three identical statues located in Richmond, Benin and England WHAT (Richmond, Virginia) -- The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission will receive 20 visitors from the Republic of Benin that will be in Richmond from June 16-18, 2012. The visit will include ceremonies at the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue and Richmond City Hall. The ceremonies will include members of Richmond City Council, the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission, Richmond City Council Sister Cities Commission and other local leaders. All residents are invited and encouraged to attend these events. Located in the western part of Africa, the Republic of Benin is one of three places were identical statues were erected as part of a global initiative for slavery reconciliation. The statues, created by international artist Steven Broadbent, were created to represent the historic global commercial trade triangles of enslaved Africans. The first two statues were erected in Liverpool, England in 1989 and the Republic of Benin in August 2005. In 2007 the final statue to complete the triangle was accomplished by the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission in holding the 2007 International Unveiling of Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue on March 30, 2007. The Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue is located at the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue Plaza at 15th and E. Main Streets in Richmond, Virginia. For three quarters of the 18th Century, Virginia (North America), Liverpool, England (Europe), and the Republic of Benin (Africa) represented one of the largest global commercial trade triangles of enslaved Africans. Liverpool's shipbuilding industry provided the vessels that sailed to the Kingdom of Dahomey, now the Republic of Benin, where African men, women and children were loaded on ships and transported to the Americas. WHEN/ Sunday, June 17, 2012; 6:00-7:00 p.m. WHERE Ceremony at the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue Plaza 15th and E. Main Streets, Richmond, Virginia Monday, June 18, 2012; 3:00-4:00 p.m. Richmond City Hall Ceremony and Tour Hosted by: The Honorable Kathy Graziano, President, Richmond City Council, Councilwoman, Southwest 4th District The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council East End 7th District, Member, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission Richmond City Council Chambers 900 E. Broad Street, 2nd Floor; Richmond, Virginia WHO The Honorable Members of Richmond City Council The Honorable Kathy Graziano, President, Richmond City Council, Councilwoman, Southwest 4th District The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council The Honorable Delores L. McQuinn, Chairman, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission, Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates 70th District, East End 7th District, Member, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission members Richmond City Council Sister Cities Commission members Other local leaders CONTACT For more information, please contact The Honorable Delores L. McQuinn, Chairman, Richmond Slave Trail Commission (Member, Virginia House of Delegates -70th Voter District) at 804.698.1070, or deldmcquinn@house.virginia.gov; or her assistant Keith, at 804.301.0671 or The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Councilwoman, Richmond City Council East End 7th District, Member, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission, at 804.646.3012; or cynthia.newbille@richmodngov.com. Background _________________________________________________________________________ Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission The Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission is a government entity of Richmond City Council that was established by Resolution Number 98-R 102-107, adopted July 13, 1998, as amended by Resolution No. 2000-R111-109, adopted July 24, 2000, as amended by Resolution No. 2003-R132-123, adopted July 14, 2003, as amended by Resolution No. 2003-R155-141, adopted September 8, 2003, as amended by Resolution No. 2004-R125-131, adopted June 28, 2004. The purpose of the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission is to assist Council with oversight and assistance in helping to preserve and present the history of slavery in Richmond. The Commission meets monthly and includes 17 members that are appointed by Council to serve for three year terms. The composition of membership is as follows: The Commission shall be composed of seventeen (17) members. Such persons shall be appointed by the Council and shall serve for terms of three (3) years. The membership of the Commission shall include at least one (1) member of City Council, not less than three (3) members of the “Hope in the Cities” organization and a representative from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. Any appointed Council members shall be given the first option of serving as the Chair of the Commission in order of their appointment. Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for meetings. Over the years, Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission has worked on a number of important projects, which have included: • 2011 Unveiling of 17 Richmond Slave Trail Markers located throughout the Shockoe Bottom area of Richmond, marking sites that help tell the historic journey, human impact, and the role Richmond played in the tragic history of slavery. The Richmond Slave Trail Markers will serve to recognize the regrettable time in our nation’s history when parts of the United States allowed the enslavement of fellow human beings and an estimated 8 percent of U.S. families owned slaves just before the U.S. Civil War. The site of the event and location of one of the 17 markers, Lumpkin's Slave Jail was the largest slave-holding facility in operation in Richmond, Virginia from 1840 until the end of the U.S. Civil War in 1865. During that time, Richmond was home to the largest domestic slave export business in the United States. The Confederate Army surrendered Richmond, the Capital of the Confederacy, on April 3, 1865. Following shortly after the end of the U. S. Civil War, which ended in Virginia on April 9, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States of America Constitution was adopted on December 6, 1865. This amendment officially abolished slavery. A precursor for this amendment was the Emancipation Proclamation, an Executive Order signed by President Abraham Lincoln, on January 1, 1863, which proclaimed the freedom of slaves living in states under Confederate control. • 2009 Development of the conceptual Richmond National Slavery Museum Richmond City Council provides annual staff assistance and financial support for the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission. Council staff support includes providing fiscal management, public information, writing, publication creation, graphic design, special event and project management, promotions and fundraising. Additional staff support is provided by the Richmond City Administration through the Richmond Department of Economic Development, which includes project engineering and management. • 2009 Development of the Richmond Slave Trail Marker Program, Signage and Commemorative Site: Lumpkin’s Slave Jail • 2008 Discovery of Lumpkin’s Slave Jail historic foundation and architectural artifacts. • 2008 – 2009 Phase II Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment: which included engineering and storm water engineering • 2007 Richmond International Unveiling of Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue on Friday, March 30, 2007, erected at 15th and E. Main Streets. This project was part of a global initiative placing three statues in three countries. Dedicated to slavery reconciliation, the installation of the statue represents nearly 10 years of work between the City of Richmond, Virginia, USA (North America), Liverpool, England (Europe), and the Republic of Benin (Africa). A statue was erected in Liverpool in 1989 and the Republic of Benin in August 2005. • 2006 Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment Lumpkin's Slave Jail was the largest slave holding facility in operation in Richmond, Virginia from 1840 until the end of the U.S. Civil War in 1865. During that time, Richmond was home to the largest domestic slave export business in the United States. Owned by Robert Lumpkin, the jail was a place that tens of thousands of African men, women and children were "stored" before being transported to slave owners living in states where slavery was legal. Following Lumpkin's death shortly after the Civil war, his common law widowed wife Mary Lumpkin, who was African-American, inherited the estate. In 1867, she leased the jail to Reverend Nathaniel Colver, who established a school for freed slaves at the site. Founded by the American Baptist Home Missionary Society and the National Theological Institute, the school grew into what is now Virginia Union University. • 2003 Acquisition of Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue. For three quarters of the 18th Century, Virginia (North America), Liverpool, England (Europe), and the Republic of Benin (Africa) represented one of the largest global commercial trade triangles of enslaved Africans. Liverpool's shipbuilding industry provided the vessels that sailed to the Kingdom of Dahomey, now the Republic of Benin, where Africans were loaded on ships and transported to the Americas. Support Richmond City Council provides annual staff assistance as available and financial support for the Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission. Council staff support includes providing fiscal management, public information, writing, publication creation, graphic design, special event and project management. Additional staff support is provided by the Richmond City Administration through the Richmond Department of Economic Development, which includes project engineering and management. Council financial support is provided through appropriations in the Richmond City Budget. This includes appropriations in the Richmond City Budget Capital Improvement Plan, Non-Departmental budgets and Departmental budgets. Funding is predicated on requests made by the Commission and as determined by Council. Examples of Richmond City Council Slave Trail Commission financial investment support, per Fiscal Year (FY), include: • FY 2011- $6,000 For general Commission support • FY 2010- $6,000 For general Commission support • FY 2009 - $75,000 For general Commission support ($30,000 - spent $5,124) and for development of the Richmond Slave Trail Marker Program; signage and commemorative site; Lumpkin’s Slave Jail; development of conceptual National Slavery Museum; and, paid sponsorship for Symposium at the University of Richmond for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. • FY 2008 - $370,000 For general Commission support ($30,000 - spent $7,748) and for Phase II of Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment, which included $155,000 for earthmoving and $35,000 for engineering and stormwater engineering (floodplain and proximity to I-95 berm) and $150,000 for archaeological services to hire a vendor. • FY 2007 - $511,000 For general Commission support ($11,000) and design and construction of the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statute plaza; erection of the statue; and, the International Unveiling of the Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue • FY 2006 - $35,000 For Richmond Slave Trail Brochure Creation/Printing Phase I of Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Archaeological Assessment • FY 2003 - $119,000 For acquisition (purchase) of Richmond Slavery Reconciliation Statue and freight from the United Kingdom Additional financial, staff and archeological support has also been provided by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods, and a number of corporate, nonprofit and individual financial sponsors. - end - ______________________________________ Steven R. Skinner, APR Council Public Information Manager RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL CHIEF OF STAFF Richmond City Hall 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305 Richmond, Virginia 23219 804.646.6052 (office) 804.335.4054 (mobile) 804.937.1386 (home/mobile) 804.646.5468 (fax) steven.skinner@richmondgov.com (email) www.council.richmondva.gov(website) ____________________________________________ MISSION The mission of Richmond City Council is to represent citizens in creating and amending local laws, providing government policy and oversight, and approving the city budget. VISION Richmond City Council is committed to creating a vibrant community that is a great place