Freedom Suits Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones (C) joins others for the Freedom Suits Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony in St. Louis on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. In the 1800’s, Missouri Territory courts allowed slaves to sue for their freedom. The lawsuits were later termed Freedom Suits. The most famous case originated in the St. Louis Circuit Court system, when Dred Scott and his wife Harriet sued for their freedom. The Freedom Suits Memorial will recognize and honor the roughly 400 enslaved people who petitioned Missouri courts for their freedom. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI