III 

Calendar No. 399 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 258 

Recognizing the historical and educational significance of the Atlantic Freedom Tour of the Freedom Schooner Amistad, and expressing the sense 

of the Senate that preserving the legacy of the Amistad story is important in promoting multicultural dialogue, education, and cooperation. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 27, 2007 

Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. LIEBERMAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 

Reported by Mr. LEAHY, without amendment 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the historical and educational significance of 

the Atlantic Freedom Tour of the Freedom Schooner 

Amistad, and expressing the sense of the Senate that 

preserving the legacy of the Amistad story is important 

in promoting multicultural dialogue, education, and cooperation. 

Whereas the Slave Trade Act of the British Parliament in 

1807 was the first major legislation to abolish the slave 

trade and began the march to end slavery; 


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SRES 258 RS 

Whereas, in 1839, 53 Africans were illegally kidnapped from 

Sierra Leone and sold into the transatlantic slave trade; 

Whereas the captives were brought to Havana, Cuba, aboard 

the Portuguese vessel Tecora, where they were fraudulently classified as native-born Cuban slaves; 

Whereas the captives were sold to Jose ́ Ruiz and Pedro 

Montez of Spain, who transferred them onto the coastal 

cargo schooner La Amistad; 

Whereas, on the evening of the rebellion, La Amistad was secretly directed to return west up the coast of North 

America, where after two months the Africans were 

seized and arrested in New London, Connecticut; 

Whereas the captives were jailed and awaited trial in New 

Haven, Connecticut; 

Whereas the trial of the captives became historic when former 

President John Quincy Adams argued on behalf of the 

enslaved before the United States Supreme Court and 

won their freedom; 

Whereas, in 2007, the Freedom Schooner Amistad will embark on its first transatlantic voyage to celebrate the 

200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic 

slave trade; and 

Whereas the Amistad case represents an opportunity to call 

to public attention the evils of slavery and the struggle 

for freedom and the restoration of human dignity: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the Senate recognizes the historical and 

3 educational significance of the Atlantic Freedom 

4 Tour of the Freedom Schooner Amistad; 


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SRES 258 RS 

1 (2) the Senate encourages the people of the 

2 United States to learn about the history of the 

3 United States and better understand the experiences 

4 that have shaped this Nation; and 

5 (3) it is the sense of the Senate that preserving 

6 the legacy of the Amistad should be regarded as a 

7 means in fostering multicultural dialogue, education, 

8 and cooperation. 


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Calendar No. 399 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 258 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the historical and educational significultural dialogue, education, and cooperation. Amistad story is important in promoting multi- of the Senate that preserving the legacy of the dom Schooner Amistad, and expressing the sense cance of the Atlantic Freedom Tour of the FreeSEPTEMBER 27, 2007 

Reported without amendment 


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