Organizers of Vandalized Rye African American Cemetery Plan Solidarity Rally

Rye, NY — The Rye community is being asked to come together in solidarity to show its outrage over the act of vandalism that occurred before Memorial Day at a historic cemetery.

Friends of the African American Cemetery have scheduled an event or 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18 at the Greenwood Union Cemetery, 215 North St. in Rye.

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Vandals stripped the fabric portion of the American flags placed near headstones in the African American Cemetery, leaving the veterans’ flags in the adjacent Greenwood Union Cemetery untouched.

The flags were replaced before the Memorial Day ceremony, leaving the remaining stick in the ground as a reminder of what had happened, organizers said.

Police collected evidence from the site, but no new leads have been found.

David Thomas, executive director of the Friends of the African American Cemetery, said the vandalism was meant to denigrate the community and the veterans buried in the landmark cemetery.

“It was clear that someone was trying to send a heinous message to our community,” he said. “There are some who want to strip people of their right as Americans. Who gets to say who is an American?”

Thomas said the event will take place as African Americans celebrate “Juneteenth,” which commenorates the day — June 19, 1865 — when slaves in Galveston, Texas, found out the Civil War was over and they had been freed, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Organizers said a Go Fund Me page has been established for anyone wishing to make a donation to the Friends of the African American Cemetery. Proceeds will be used to improve access to the cemetery, conduct research, clean headstones and to essentially make the cemetery a place for learning and contemplation. Donations can also be mailed to Friends of the African American Cemetery, 420 Elm Street, Port Chester, NY 10573, with checks payable to Friends of the African American Cemetery.

Updated information on the event can be found on the organization’s Facebook page.