New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The Senate approved two bills on Thursday that would have the state observe two black-history relate days. One bill filed by Representative Michelle L. Ciccolo (D), bill H.3117 would declare July 8 as Massachusetts Emancipation Day or Quock Walker Day, and the second bill S 2703, filed by Senator Joan B. Lovely (D) would designate the third Saturday in July as Negro Election Day.
“Emancipation Day” would honor Quock Walker, whose 1783 case before the Supreme Judicial Court established the legal precedent that slavery was in direct conflict with Massachusetts’ newly-minted Constitution and was therefore unconstitutional.
“Negro Election Day” would recognize the adoption of the first black voting system which took place in 1740 when enslaved people in Massachusetts would hold an annual election to choose their own king or governor.
