Photo Focus: St. Croix’s Fort to Fort Tradition Marches On in Honor of Emancipation Day

Tradewinds staff
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Several community members gathered before sunrise today at Fort Christiansvaern to mark the significant day of Emancipation Day, July 3, in the Virgin Islands by walking from Fort Christiansvaern to Fort Frederik. In its 24th year, this annual event organized by Positiveworks, Inc. commemorates the day enslaved Africans fought for their freedom and succeeded in 1848.

What started off as a moment of reflection on the ancestor’s victory went slightly arrayed as Positive Nelson, former Senator and owner of Serenity’s Nest, shared his great disgust over loudspeakers on how the Virgin Islands Police Department would not adhere to his permit to play music throughout the walk. Nelson continued for several hours from estate to estate on the alleged corruption by VIPD and continued to berate the Virgin Islands Public Works on the overgrown bush impeding the safety of the walkers in various areas along Queen Mary Highway.

Participants at the St. Croix Fort to Fort Walk in celebration of Emancipation Day gather at 4:00 a.m. at Fort Christiansvaern. (Source photo by Shanell Petersen)
Positive Nelson (center in white) speaks into the mic, walking alongside other participants as the sun rises behind them during St. Croix’s annual Fort-to-Fort walk. (Source photo by Shanell Petersen)
Volunteers handed out refreshments during the St. Croix’s Fort to Fort Walk to participants, including walker Justin Curtis Smith (center in white). (Source photo Shanell Petersen)
Members and organizer (left) of the Dembaya Conservatory perform on drums at Fort Frederik in Buddhoe Park following the walk. (Source photo by Shanell Petersen)
Former Senator Positive Nelson provides prayers and prepares to blow the conch shell in front of Fort Frederik following the Fort to Fort Walk. (Source photo by Shanell Petersen)

Freedom Week events organized by Positiveworks, Inc., continue with a Freedom Concert on Saturday at Serenity’s Nest at 6:00 p.m., featuring performances by Ras Batch and Empress Ima, Gyasi Clarke, Jahnee Redlocs, and Fyah Train.