The Amistad Trials: What Price Freedom

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 6 PM: The Amistad Trials: What Price Freedom? With Honorable Dennis J. Curran, Justice Massachusetts Superior Court (Ret.)

Virtual. The issue of slavery versus freedom rears its ugly head in this first civil rights trial in American history, more than two decades before the Civil War explodes in 1861. This case pits the American government against the Spanish government, the President against his own Secretary of State, the executive branch versus the judicial branch, and abolitionists against slave traders. It even prompted a former President to appear before the Supreme Court to condemn the policies of a present Administration. This case finally received the recognition it deserved from Stephen Spielberg’s 1997 Academy Award-nominated feature film, Amistad.

The Honorable Dennis J. Curran was an associate justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court, appointed to the seat by former governor Mitt Romney in 2006. He has taught the practice of Political Science and Law at Tufts University and Roger Williams University of Law. He was born and raised in Boston.

Registration link: https://bit.ly/3Udct6q

Email : vhpl_programs@clamsnet.org for more information

Free. Sponsored by the Vineyard Haven and Chilmark Public Libraries.