"All unfree from the Danish West India islands are from today emancipated" Peter von Scholten While many across the United States and its Territories are preparing for the 4th of July and American Independence celebrations, today July 3rd marks a very important holiday in the US Virgin Islands – Emancipation Day. 70 years after the revolutionists in the thirteen colonies rose up from tyranny in 1776 and 14 years before the enslaved were emancipated in the United States, the enslaved on St Croix banded together and coordinated an uprising. They were the second island in the Caribbean after Haiti to demand their freedom and set the precedent for emancipation throughout the Caribbean. Often it is said that Danish Governor Peter von Scholten abolished chattel slavery. And while it is technically true, it was actually an uprising of enslaved people on July 3, 1848, that prompted him to do it much earlier than he had planned. After the beginning of riots and speaking to General Buddhoe, Governor-General Peter von Scholten had this flyer printed and posted to officially declare the abolishment of slavery. #usviemancipationweek #usterritories #USVirginIslands #usviemancipation #usviemancipationday #StCroix #stthomasusvi #stjohnusvi #budhoe #budhoepark #DanishWestIndies #july3rd #emancipation #fyahbun #generalbuddhoe (at General Budhoe Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCLfAGdjqfV/?igshid=4xdkmmdbfe5r
