Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 7496 would require the National Park Service to install a plaque on the Ram Head Trail in the Virgin Islands National Park recognizing a slave rebellion that began on St. John in 1733. I applaud Delegate Plaskett for leading this effort along with the support of Congressman Reschenthaler. In 1733, the island of St. John in Danish West Indies was occupied by roughly 200 European settlers and more than 1,000 African slaves, most of whom were starving following a major drought and a devastating hurricane. To quell disorder amongst the slaves, strict mandates were imposed that inflicted severe punishments against rebelling slaves. On November 23, 1733, a group of slaves took possession of a Danish fort while another group overtook plantations, resulting in rebel control of most of the island. Danish troops could not manage the revolt, and French troops came to aid, assisting in the capture and execution of the rebels. Rather than be captured, some rebels chose to instead commit collective suicide, involving 11 rebels whose bodies were found at the Ram Head rebel camp. The plaque authorized by H.R. 7496 would include important facts about this rebellion. Information about the tragic suicide that occurred during the rebellion, and the significance of the slave rebellion to the history of this island.…”