Pardons pushed for Kentuckians convicted of helping slaves escape

[IndianaGreen]

Pardons pushed for Kentuckians convicted of helping slaves escape

By John Cheves

FRANKFORT — The Rev. Calvin Fairbank spent 17 years in a Kentucky prison — suffering beatings and brutal labor — for committing the felony of helping slaves escape to freedom. Released in 1864, a broken man, he kissed the dirt of Ohio upon reaching that free state.

"Out of the jaws of Hell!" Fairbank cried, according to his autobiography.

In the 19th century, Kentucky convicted at least 58 people for "seducing or enticing slaves to leave their lawful owners." Defendants faced 20 years in the Kentucky State Penitentiary, where some died. One, David C. McDonald, was forgotten and languished in prison until 1870, five years after slavery was abolished.

Now, several men are working to clear the names of those — men and women, black and white — whose "crimes" today would be recognized as among mankind's finest acts.

They want Gov. Steve Beshear to issue pardons for the slave rescuers, albeit posthumously.

"I want to resurrect their names and deeds and give them their proper place in history," said James Prichard, 56, a retired state archivist who spent much of his career studying slavery in Kentucky.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2010/03/12/1177922/pardons-pushed-for-kentuckians.html#ixzz0obVcVCAd

Sent to jail for challenging slavery

The campaign to win posthumous pardons for imprisoned abolitionists reminds us that unjust laws must be challenged and broken to win justice.

May 21, 2010

OUR NATION was founded on slavery, the brutalization of millions of Africans brought forcefully to this country and subjected to obscene cruelties.

Yet from the beginning of slavery, slaves themselves and others who opposed their oppression resisted the institution of slavery and sought its abolition.

<snip>

Some historians in Kentucky are now trying to set the record straight, seeking posthumous pardons for 44 people from the state who were convicted for trying to help slaves escape their bondage.

As John Cheves reported in the Lexington Herald-Leader: "In the 19th century, Kentucky convicted at least 58 people for 'seducing or enticing slaves to leave their lawful owners.' Defendants faced 20 years in the Kentucky State Penitentiary, where some died."

In a paper titled "Into the Fiery Furnace: Anti-Slavery Prisoners in the Kentucky State Penitentiary 1844-1870," retired state archivist and historian James Prichard recounts how:

Over eight of these forgotten heroes died during their confinement. Incredible as it sounds, the last anti-slavery prisoner did not leave his cell until 1870--over five years after slavery was swept from the land.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/05/21/sent-jail-challenging-slavery

The new school textbooks in Texas don't even mention slavery!

[damntexdem]

1. And the anti-immigrant people say "but illegal immigrants broke the law."

Some laws deserve to be broken.

And the Texas BOE just approved their rightwing social studies curriculum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfjJMTF2EIc.

[IndianaGreen]

4. A lot of blood was shed for our freedoms

mostly on American soil! The Civil War remains our nation's bloodiest conflict. The fight for the 8-hour work day was paid in blood in the streets of Chicago.

[aquart]

2. This is a good fight.

As for Texas, how will Texas students pass qualifying exams for out of state universities? Or has all that been abolished?

[IndianaGreen]

3. How can students that only learned Creationism become good scientists?

Impossible!