"To the memory of the black soldiers of Greater Danbury who served in the 29th and 30th Regiments Conn. Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War 1861-1865.”
Below the inscription is an image of the Grand Army of the Republic medal. The rear of the monument includes the names of the 70 members of the 29th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment; the names of the 9 members of the 30th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment, as well as the names of those who served as part of the 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment; the 2nd USCT; the 26th USCT; US Navy; 62nd New York Infantry.
]]>The memorial stands on the site of the New Haven jail, where Pieh and the other Amistad Africans were held during their trials. The three sides of the sculpture depict the life of Pieh: the first side shows him as a young man in Africa; the second side depicts his court trials, and the third side shows Pieh after he won his freedom. A fourth side of the sculpture, only visible from the upper floors of City Hall, includes images of disembodied hands emerging from ocean waves, a reminder of the thousands who perished during the Middle Passage. Pieh's famous courtroom statement, "make us free" is inscribed on the work’s granite base. The memorial rests atop a squared platform, which was inserted into a purpose-built recessed space added to City Hall during a 1990 renovation.
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