Today, April 16th marks the 145th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. On this day in 1862 Abraham Lincoln signed legislation which provided compensatation to slaveholders for the emancipation of their slaves in the Nation’s Capitol, resulting in freedom for 3,100 men, women, and children. What made the legislation important is that it officially outlawed slavery within Washington's boundaries, the only such law in effect until passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. The popular notion that the final Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln in January 1863 freed slaves is just that, a popular notion, as the Proclamation had little impact,in granting freedom to slaves in rebellious States, which was its designed purpose.
An Emancipation Day celebration became an annual event in the District from 1866 until 1901, including a parade which followed down Pennsylvania Avenue, stopped in front of the White House, and continued to observances at Lincoln Park. The celebration was discontinued after 1901 when disputes arose between competing parade organizers and the occasion was marked only in African-American churches until being forgotten entirely.
In 2002 City Councilman Vincent Orange started a campaign to have Emancipation Day resurrected. Three years of effort paid off when Mayor Anthony Williams signed legislation into law declaring April 16th as an official District observance. Today, marks the final day in a week long observance which will culminate in a march to demonstrate for voting rights and Congressional representation for District residents.
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