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Marking the end of the slave trade
THE BICENTENARY of the abolition of the slave trade was celebrated by church-based campaigners who marched onto Buxton Market Place wearing yokes and chains.
The March of the Abolitionists passed through the town on a 420-mile trek visiting Britain’s major slaving ports to symbolise reconciliation after the injustices of the Atlantic slave trade.
Project director David Pott said: “We have three reasons for doing the walk; to celebrate the end of the slave trade; to apologise for Britain’s role in the slave trade and to highlight how slavery is still an issue.”
He said the visual impact of white people in the same yokes and chains worn by African and Caribbean slaves centuries ago highlighted their message.
He said: “When people were taken as slaves they had to walk from the heartlands of Africa to the coasts to be shipped off into slavery in the Americas and Europe. They had to walk hundreds of miles in these yokes and chains.”
People from all over the world whose ancestors were touched by slavery have joined the march, as well as the descendents of slave traders and leaders of the church.
Buxton Methodist Church hosted the group last Monday night. Joseph Zintseme from Cameroon who joined the march in Bristol said: “I have been with the group since June. We have had a very positive reception. What we are doing is not a reverse of slavery. We believe it will bring healing.”
He said some people had been very sensitive to the marchers’ symbolism and questioned why apologies were necessary for things that happened hundreds of years ago.
Joseph said: “The struggles in Africa now, the poverty and political strife, is in part a legacy of the slave trade and colonialism.”
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Weather for Buxton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
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Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
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