Massachusetts Emancipation Day

The Massachusetts Legislature passed a law last year declaring July 8 Massachusetts Emancipation Day — a.k.a. Quock Walker Day — and recognizing the significant contributions Quock Walker made to abolish slavery in the state.

The Bay State Banner urges Gov. Charlie Baker to sign the law creating Emancipation Day. Even Boston City Councilors seem to be unaware that in 1783, Massachusetts became the first state to outlaw slavery.

After months of discussion, a proposed holiday to mark the end of slavery in Massachusetts is one step closer to becoming law. At the end of October, both branches of the state legislature passed a bill that would mark July 8 as “Emancipation Day.”

Massachusetts is one step closer to creating a new state holiday that would honor an instrumental figure in the fight to end slavery.