The Bicentennial of Haitian Independence - Providence, RI
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neoc1
N 41° 47.352 W 071° 24.748
19T E 299540 N 4629184
A monument that commemorates the slave revolt that led to Haitian
independence from France is located in Memorial Plaza near Hawthorne Ave. in Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI
Waymark Code: WMTCBN
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 11/01/2016
Views: 0
On January 1, 1804, as a result of the slave revolt and revolution of 1791 - 1804, Haiti declared its independent from France. It was the first black republic in the world and the first country in the Western hemisphere to completely abolish slavery.
A 12' tall by 4' square granite monument commemorates the efforts of two Haitian freedom fighters, Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, to achieve the end of slavery and independence of Haiti from France.
The southeast side of the two side monument is inscribed:
In Unity
there is
Strength
HAITI
The Spirit of Freedom
1791 - 1804 Founding of Haiti
TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE AND
JEAN-JACQUES DESSALINES
ARE THE TWIN AUTHORS OF THE FOUNDING
OF HAITI. CONFIRMED IN THE CONSTITUTION
OF 1801, FIRST SYMBOL OF HAITIAN AUTONOMY
AND BY THE ACT OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1804
THE FINAL DECLARED OF HAITI'S FREEDOM
FROM FRANCE
TWO LEADERS OF DIFFERING CONVICTION AND
BELIEF TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE IS
IMMORTALIZED BY HIS FAITH IN THE IDEA
THAT LIBERTY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT WORK.
WHILE JEAN-JACQUES DESSALINES IS
REMEMBERED FOR HIS DICTATE THAT ONE
MUST CHOOSE EITHER LIBERTY OF DEATH
Dedicated
August 14, 2005
The northwest side contains a bronze plaque with the images of Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines and the inscription:
The Bicentennial of Haitian
Independence
Memorial Plaza
{Images}
In memory of two Haitian Freedom Fighters
Born into slavery, Toussaint Louverture and
Jean-Jacques Dessalines symbolized those who fought for
the liberation of Saint Dominque from its colonial
bonds between 1791-1804. Armed with the conviction
that slavery and servitude had no justifiable place
within human society in a civilized world, and under
the banner of the Declaration of the Rights of Man,
their devotion to democratic principles was realized
in the creation of the Republic of Haiti after 13 years
of constant struggle. Recognizing their critical
leadership, we create this park dedicated to the
Bicentennial of Haitian Independence, a project of:
Lakay Foundation, Inc.
Dedicated August 14, 2005