Sarah Parker Remond - Town Hall

My name is Sarah Parker Remond. I am the daughter of Nancy and John Remond. I lived in Rhode Island but moved to Salem because the schools refused to accept black students. In Salem, I furthered my education on my own by attending many lectures and reading any book I could get my hands on. My mother was one of the founders of the Salem Female Anti-Slavery Society; she taught us to seek liberty lawfully and that is what I planned to do. I quickly fell in love with spreading the word on the anti-slavery movement and gave my first anti-slavery lecture at just sixteen years old.

Today, I am here to discuss the ongoing issue of slavery in our land. Our nation has thirty-two states, with sixteen being free and sixteen being slave states.  
 

The slaves are treated as possessions, stripped of any rights - political, social, domestic, or religious. They are completely at the mercy of their owners, subjected to abuse. The lives of slaves are unimaginable, and their suffering is indescribable.  

 

Even free people of color in northern states are denied political and social rights solely based on their complexion. They are treated as outcasts, regardless of their wealth, knowledge, or refinement. White individuals who support them also face humiliation and insults. People endure this injustice solely because of their skin color. 
 

This is not a matter of politics; it is a moral question. The majority of abolitionists solely focus on the moral and religious aspect of this issue. An incident from Savannah in 1859 is a tragic example, where three hundred and forty-three slaves, including even infants, were sold without regard for familial ties. Astonishingly, the owner of these slaves, Pierce Butler, still moves among the respectable members of society in Philadelphia and even holds influence over the church. 

  

I implore you for your sympathy and influence. Your public opinion holds immense weight, and words spoken here carry more significance than any written words. We cannot ignore this brutalization of men and women.  

 

Before I conclude, I want to share some passages from the laws of the slave states. Some of these laws allow the arrest and potential sale of free colored people if they cannot prove their freedom. Another law criminalizes any communication with slaves that may incite riots, even if it involves bringing in papers or pamphlets. The punishment for such acts ranges from imprisonment to death, as decided by the judge. I could go on with these laws, but I will close by informing you that a gentleman in Maryland is currently imprisoned for ten years simply for possessing a copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The laws are also severe against teaching slaves to read or mentioning God's name in their presence. 

 

Considering these horrifying realities, I urge all of you to stand against slavery in solidarity. Together, let us eradicate this grave injustice from our world. Remember, the fight against slavery is not just a political battle; it is a moral crusade.