Senator Klein, Assemblyman Crespo and Hunts Point Community Leaders Call for Official Recognition of African Slave Burial Ground at Drake Park

WHO: State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester)
Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-Bronx)
National Action Network Bronx Chapter President, Dashawn Williams
NAACP East Bronx Chapter President, Beverly Roberts
Bright Temple AME Pastor, Reverand Kali Motoo
Community Board 2 District Manager, Rafael Salamanca Jr.
P.S. 48 Principal Roxanna Cardona
P.S. 48 Students
Project Director of “Teaching American History” Program, Brian Carlin

WHAT: Senator Klein, local elected officials and Bronx community leaders will call for official recognition by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation of an African Slave Burial Ground discovered last year at Joseph Rodman Drake Park in Hunts Point. Additionally, Klein and local elected officials will call for the burial ground to be considered for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Klein and community leaders will highlight the importance of speedy designation to prevent the site from further neglect, damage or desecration.

In 2013, faculty and students of P.S. 48 in the Bronx uncovered evidence of an African Slave Burial Ground Site. By reviewing maps, census records, photos, and other documentary evidence, the faculty and students at P.S. 48 have also identified this park as a burial site for over one hundred African slaves previously unacknowledged by history.

WHEN: Friday, January 24, 2014, 11:00 AM

WHERE: Joseph Rodman Drake Park, 1361 Drake Park South, Bronx, NY 10474