On May 23, 1832, a petition signed by thousands of Jamaicans calling for the abolition of slavery was formally read in the British Parliament. As Britain debated the future of slavery in its colonies, this grassroots action from enslaved and free Jamaicans played a critical role. The petition illustrated the political agency of Black Caribbean people and added pressure that ultimately led to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. May 23 honors the courage of those who spoke truth to power and helped to dismantle one of history’s most brutal systems through organized protest and advocacy.
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