The impact of Damon’s...

significant unveiling ceremony attended by Desmond Hoyte, the then President of Guyana, alongside members of the diplomatic corps. The event also saw the participation of international guests, including General Yakubu and Mrs Gowon from Nigeria, who visited Guyana to join in the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of emancipation. The inscription on the monument reads:

“On August 8th 1834 Damon demonstrated with 700 others against apprenticeship. Barricaded himself in Trinity Churchyard at La Belle Alliance he hoisted a flag of freedom and was later arrested and tried in Georgetown for inciting rebellion. He was hanged publicly outside the public buildings Georgetown on October the 13th 1834.”

Beyond the monument, there are various ways to pay tribute to Damon, a pivotal figure in the history of Guyana. Damon’s legacy is interwoven with the wide-ranging narrative of global civil disobedience and the extensive continuum of Black liberation movements worldwide.

His profound impact and dedication to peaceful protest are especially honoured during Black History Month in February. This period serves as an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the significant contributions of individuals and movements that have been instrumental in advancing civil rights and social justice. Damon’s legacy resonates in the lives and actions of influential figures such as Ida B Wells, Fannie Lou Hamer, Martin Luther King Jr, and numerous others, reflecting its enduring relevance in contemporary discourse.