|
2003
Contact Lisa 296-2633- ext. 28
FESTIVITIES
COMMEMORATING VISIT
OF FREEDOM SCHOONER AMISTAD
CONTINUE
Local
events commemorating the visit of the freedom schooner Amistad continue as the ship is in port for a second week.
Amistad,
a reconstruction of the historic La
Amistad, was a coastal trader used to carry African
captives within Cuba in 1839.
A rebellion aboard ship led to public outcries
for an end to the practice of slavery and resulted in
the first human rights case to be argued and won in the
American court system.
Public
tours of the ship, as well as an orientation video at
the Amistad welcome center at the Harbor Walk Room at the Hilton Resort,
are available from 9-12 and 2-5 on weekend days and from
2-5 on weekdays through January 16.
Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the Mel
Fisher Maritime Museum at 200 Greene Street.
A combination ticket for $12 to include a tour of
the Museum and its latest exhibit “The Last Slave
Ships”, as well as the Amistad
tour are also available.
Proceeds from ticket sales go to Amistad America,
Inc., a national non-profit educational organization
that supports the goodwill tours of the vessel such as
this one in Key West.
Related
events over the next week include an outdoor screening
of the Steven Spielberg movie AMISTAD by the Key West
Film Society on Friday, January 10 at 8 p.m.
The screening will be at the Hilton Pier.
A tour of the Key West African cemetery will be
held on Saturday, January 11 at 10 a.m. led by Museum
director of archaeology Corey Malcom.
The First Congregational United Church of Christ
will hold an interfaith service on Sunday at 5 p.m. at
527 William Street.
The United Church of Christ was among the first
religious groups to step forward in the late 1830’s to
raise the issue of ending slavery in the public
consciousness.
A
conversation on the legacy of the Amistad Incident will
be held in the social hall at First Congregational UCC
on Monday, January 13 at 7 p.m.
The forum will be moderated by Deborah Capraro
and will feature guest presentations on the past,
present and future implications of this historic event
in our nation’s history.
Key
West Black History stories will be told by Calvin Allen
and Tom Hambright at the Monroe County Library (700
Fleming Street) on Wednesday, January 15 at 7 p.m.
Students of the Bahama Village Music Program will
present music selections prior to the story telling.
All
events are free and open to the public.
School tours of the Amistad
continue in the mornings through January 16.
Freedom Schooner Amistad
will leave the Key West port on Friday, January 17.
The
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is a 501c(3) not for profit
organization dedicated to the research, preservation and
education of New World history.
|
