August 30: Gabriel’s Rebellion Day

This year, the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project invites you to commemorate Gabriel’s Rebellion Day on Sunday, August 30 with two events: the unveiling of a new historic highway marker and a public update about the current state of The Shockoe Project.

In 2004, the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality organized the unveiling event of the first historic marker within the city limits to honor Gabriel’s Rebellion and the existence of the first municipal cemetery for the burials of the city’s Black people. 

Later research has changed what we know about where Gabriel and his Richmond compatriots died; therefore, a new marker with accurate information will be unveiled on Aug. 30. We will also hold a public discussion to serve as a reminder of the goals of the original Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park and how those goals are playing out in the process and construction of the The Shockoe Project.

The original marker, titled "Gabriel's Execution," will be removed and stored until a decision is made about its fate: donation to an institution or recycled.

"NEA ONNIM"

In 2004, the Sacred Ground Project chose an Adinkra symbol, "nea onnim," from the Akan people of Ghana for its logo that means, "Those who do not know will know from learning." Our work on promoting the history of Gabriel's Rebellion and the African Burial Ground in the Bottom has epitomized this idea as ongoing learning. Like Sankofa, our August and October events help us look back at what we need for the future. We learn and we progress.

Event details will be posted at sacredgroundproject.net, on Facebook and Instagram.