On the night of 31 July 2024 the Guardian participated in the Emancipation Jubilee Event in Jamaica to commemorate the end of the transatlantic trade in enslaved people. Joseph Harker of our Legacies of enslavement team, delivered an apology through a video message alongside families whose ancestors had profited from the transatlantic slavery.
Olivia Grange MP, Jamaica’s Culture Minister, accepted these apologies on behalf of the Jamaican government and stressed there is more work to be done: “We have a long way to go, but we are focused on seeking reparatory justice. These apologies may be small steps, but they are important steps on that journey”.
The Guardian’s participation in this event forms part of the Legacies of Enslavement programme aiming to atone for the organisation’s connections to transatlantic enslavement, as set out by the Scott Trust.
You can watch the full Emancipation Jubilee event here.