Early on the morning of April 3, 1865, Union troops, led by Black soldiers and cavalry, marched into Richmond, which for more than three years had been the capital of the slavery-defending Confederacy. They tore open the slave jails, held a mass rally on Broad Street and restored freedom to the city.

For many years, Richmond’s Black community and its allies held an annual Liberation Day celebration, at times marching in the thousands, to commemorate this historic event.

This year, the Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality are inviting the public to join us at 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 3, at the spot where the Union soldiers entered the city. Hear eyewitness accounts of the events and share your thoughts about what Liberation Day means to you.

We will meet at the state highway marker (# SA-41) that marks the Union’s entry into Richmond, located at the intersection of Main and Nicholson streets, on your left when traveling north on Main Street. (For GPS directions, enter 4400 E. Main St., Henrico, VA 23231.)

For more information, call or text the Defenders at 804.644.5834 or email us at DefendersFJE@hotmail.com.
To RSVP to the Facebook event, see this link.

Click here for more events happening on April 2 and 3.