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St. Mary’s County unveils 'stopping stones' at Leonardtown Jail to honor freedom seekers
Summary
At a chilly ceremony in Leonardtown, officials and community members unveiled five "stopping stones" honoring men jailed while seeking freedom; speakers recounted local slavery history, the 1864 Maryland constitution and the stones’ role as a site-specific remembrance.
At a chilly outdoor ceremony in Leonardtown, St. Mary’s County, officials and community members unveiled five "stopping stones" honoring five men who were jailed while seeking freedom, organizers said.
The stones — granite bases topped with hand-stamped brass plaques — were provided to the county through a grant and were presented as tangible, place-based memorials to people held in the Leonardtown jail between 1858 and 1864. Nathaniel Lawrence, president of the Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions, described the initiative as "a historical and social reparation initiative created to recognize and remember the individuals enslaved in early America at this place." Lawrence said UCAC participated with other community partners to produce the stones.
Commissioner Eric Colvin, who identified himself as the vice…
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