Virgin Islands marked Emancipation Day and U.S. Independence Day on July 3 and 4, 2018

The Virgin Islands observed the 170th anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the former Danish West Indies on July 3, 2018, and the 242nd anniversary of U.S. independence on July 4, 2018, according to a Government House announcement issued July 2, 2018.

Government House said Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp planned to observe both holidays on St. John.

According to the announcement, St. John's Emancipation Day program was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on July 3, 2018, at the St. John Festival Village stage with Emmanuel Boyd blowing the conch shell. Participants listed for the program included the Caribbean Ritual Dancers, the St. Thomas Spiritual Dancers, Haile Israel, In Harmony, Eddie Bruce, Delroy "Ital" Anthony and historian Mario C. Moorhead.

Government House said the July 4, 2018 Festival Parade on St. John was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Cruz Bay, followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.

In the statement, Mapp referred to the events of July 3, 1848, when enslaved people from plantations across St. Croix converged on Fort Frederik and Gov. Gen. Peter von Scholten issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/july-3-marks-170-years-since-virgin-islands-emancipation/