February is Black History Month and The Jerry Rescue monument in Syracuse’s Clinton Square is an example of when the community stepped in to help slaves. It is one of the many stops on the Freedom Trail through Syracuse. Onondaga Historical Association curator of history Robert Searing says while neighbors called the respected businessman “Jerry,” his given name was William Henry. It was the community’s top leaders who fought for his freedom in court.
“There is a trial and the trial contains the name bigtime names that are still here in the community… Comstock, Barnes, Sedgewick," said Searing. These guys are all lawyers and they’re all involved in this case. And it is a fascinating case to the citizens trying to use legal methods to push back against laws.”
In the end, ‘community conscience’ and courageous individuals led to Jerry’s escape from slavery on October 1st, 1851. Searing says there are so many parallels between then and now. He compares the Fugitive Slave Act to how Americans are reacting to President Trump’s deportation and immigration policies, creating recent gatherings at the Jerry Rescue monument.
“Is that people continue to react to something they cannot fathom, that they do not agree with and it pushes people to take political positions. And so as long as we have this example right here in our own community, it will continue to be a place where people gather and it will continue to be a beacon for righteousness.”
Searing suggests says an interesting contrast to the Jerry Rescue monument is nearby on Clinton Square where the Soldiers and Sailors monument marks 10 years between William Henry’s rescue to the outbreak of the Civil War.
