Rochester Honors Freedom’s First Day | Rochester News

Rochester is set to honor a pivotal moment in history this Saturday with the first-ever Abolition Commemoration Day, celebrating New York’s 1827 law that ended slavery. Held at Maplewood Park’s Rose Garden — overlooking the historic Kelsey’s Landing, a key Underground Railroad escape point — the event features speakers, reflections, and a symbolic walk into the gorge to honor ancestors like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs, umbrellas, and wear red, green, or black. Rain or shine, this powerful, community-driven celebration reclaims the legacy of early Black New Yorkers who chose to mark their freedom — a moving tribute to resilience and the enduring fight for liberation. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1e49928e50f96fdd