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Sint Maarten marked the 158th Emancipation Day in 2021 under 'No More Auction Block!'

Sint Maarten marked the 158th anniversary of emancipation on 1 July 2021 with an ecumenical service and a ceremony at Watkins House under the theme 'No More Auction Block!'.

By SXM Daily ·

Reported 2 July 2021.

Sint Maarten marked the 158th anniversary of emancipation on Thursday 1 July 2021 under the theme "No More Auction Block!", according to the government's Department of Communication, in a release carried by 721news.

St. Martin of Tours Church, Philipsburg (illustrative)

Illustrative: St. Martin of Tours Church, Philipsburg. Photo: Dr. Thomas Liptak / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The day included an ecumenical service at St. Martin of Tours Church, followed by a ceremony at Watkins House on the boardwalk, with speeches by Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Rodolphe Samuel, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and the Governor.

In her remarks, Jacobs called the apologies for slavery made by Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema "a start", The Daily Herald reported.

For the history behind the holiday, see our guide to emancipation on Saint Martin.

Sources

  • https://www.721news.com/2021/07/dcomms-emancipation-day-special-no-more-auction-block/
  • https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/apologies-a-start-says-jacobs-during-emancipation-day-2021
  • https://sxmdaily.com/culture/article/emancipation-abolition-of-slavery-saint-martin

Source: https://www.721news.com/2021/07/dcomms-emancipation-day-special-no-more-auction-block/

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