Join us for a historical reenactment and community light parade to celebrate Byberry’s Underground Railroad history, led by local walking artist Ken Johnston.

This event marks the 175th anniversary—to the day—of a dramatic meeting in Byberry Hall to protest the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, a new federal  law that required citizens to aid the recapture of emancipated people, even in states where slavery was illegal. Robert Purvis, a leader of the Underground Railroad in Byberry, and other community leaders gathered local citizens to adopt a strongly worded protest that was later published in the Pennsylvania Freeman newspaper.

Event participants will be invited to take on the role of the historic signers of the protest and read the statement together.

Then walking artist Ken Johnston will lead a parade around the Byberry Meeting burial grounds, marking the locations of prominent people in the anti-slavery movement and telling stories about the Underground Railroad in Byberry.

Make your own lantern in the workshop beforehand or bring your own handheld light or lantern – if it glows, it goes!

This is the second of two events with Ken Johnston on this day. Click here to register for his Lantern-Making workshop.