City Dems Support African Burying Ground

The Portsmouth Democratic Committee announced its donation of $5,250 for the African Burying Ground Memorial at the Portsmouth Public Library last Thursday. 

Committee Chair Larry Drake presented a large, symbolic check for that amount to Mary Bailey of the African Burying Ground Memorial Committee. Bailey thanked the Portsmouth Democrats for their donation and noted that the capital campaign for the African Burying Ground Memorial has raised about $600,000 of its $1.2 million goal.

The Portsmouth African Burying Ground site is one of only a few sites nationally that have been historically verified. The nearest similar site is the National Park Service site in New York City. 

Up to 20 local Democrats made individual donations as part of an awareness campaign of the Portsmouth Democrats.

“We hope that this effort will encourage other local community groups to join the effort to help realize this unique memorial, which recognizes the history of Africans in our community,” said Peter Somssich, former chair of the Portsmouth Democratic Committee, who led the fundraising effort. 

The donation of the Portsmouth Democrats will be recognized by a plaque when the Memorial is built.

Submitted by Larry Drake, chairman, Portsmouth Democratic Committee