39/40.- Montego Bay, downtown, sam sharpe square

Samuel Sharpe (1801-1832) was the leader of the 1831 christmas rebellion. Sharpe was a religious leader. He used his sermons to spread his liberation ideology. At that time slaves were only allowed to meet in church. In 1831 sharpe told his followers not to work on christmas day. Several farms were set on fire and a dozen colonialist were killed. One thousand slaves were killed during the repression that followed. Sharpe himself was hanged. Three years later the abolition bill was passed in the British parliament.

The square and the sculptures in the picture are dedicated to this national hero.

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