LYNN — The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed 168 years ago and Lynn’s reactions to the historic moment were well-kept.
The Fugitive Slave Act legally mandated the return of any runaway slaves, regardless of the state within the Union where they were at the time of their discovery or capture.
“We have no idea if any attempt will be made to take away any of the citizens of Lynn, or those who have not become citizens,” read a local newspaper clipping from 1850.
“There are persons here who escaped from ‘service’ long ago,” read another clipping. “They are Massachusetts citizens and are entitled to the aid of the Commonwealth in the protection of their rights.”
As part of the Douglass 200 Committee’s yearlong celebration of Frederick Douglass’ bicentennial anniversary of his birth, city officials and residents read a few of the centuries-old newspaper and telegraph clippings aloud at Lynn City Hall. Wendy Joseph, co-chair of the committee, said most of the archives were from former Boston and Lynn publications.
“They’re talking about slavery and I know it was very bad,” said 7-year-old attendee Giana Rizzuto. “I don’t know why anyone would start something like that. The people who had slaves didn’t like people of color and that was only because they looked different.”
In 1850, when the law was passed, Lynn had just been incorporated into a city, but it already had a significant history of abolitionist work under its belt, according to Joseph. She said most people know Douglass’ role in the later abolishment of slavery, but most don’t realize his long tenure as a Lynn resident.
Joseph said, just like Douglass, there are a number of social justice warriors in the city who fight for what they believe in every day. The work of those warriors re-affirms Lynn’s noble history in working to reject injustice. Michelle Guzman, a reenactment attendee, told of the longstanding fight after the act was passed to abolish slavery.
“We are still seeing some of those fights today,” said Guzman. “In immigration, we are fighting to keep families together. Kids in cages, separated from their parents, is still a form of slavery.”
Joseph said all the committee’s events were organized around former Lynner Tom Dalton’s book titled “Frederick Douglass: The Lynn Years, 1841-1848.” As a former reporter, Dalton used original sources in his research of the famous abolitionist, which is how he found the local reactions to the historic slave act. When he shared those reactions with Joseph, she knew the committee had to incorporate them into an event.
The committee co-chair wanted to honor and remember how Lynn pushed back against the law’s passing. Given the current political state of the country, Joseph said it was the right time to remember the city’s roots. Douglass would surely recognize the justice-seeking of Lynn’s residents as a legacy of his lifetime’s work, she said.
“America has its problems, just like everybody else does,” said Darren Cyr, city council president, during the event’s opening remarks. “It is still the greatest place to live and that is because of people like Frederick Douglass who fought, and still fight, for our rights.”
As the Frederick Douglass celebration series nears its end, there are four more events: A free performance of “The Boston Abolitionists” at the Lynn Community Television studios on Sept. 21, a celebration to “Save our History” at 58 Andrew St. on Sept. 22, an abolitionist grave tour at Pine Grove Cemetery Tour on Oct. 14, and a gospel music presentation at the Washington Street Baptist Church on Oct. 14.