Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer
Ellie Waltman, Managing Editor
The Virginia Defenders hosted its 24th annual Gabriel Gathering on Oct. 10 to educate and honor the history of Gabriel’s Rebellion, which occurred 226 years ago.
The event took place on Oct. 10, the day that Gabriel was executed, and was used to discuss how Gabriel’s story and the lessons learned from it could be used in current justice issues today.
The event featured speakers from the Virginia Defenders and unionized workers from United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400, APWU Local Retirees Chapter, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Workers United and the Political Coalition and Policy Committee.
Gabriel, historically known as Gabriel Prosser after being given the last name of his enslaver, Thomas Prosser, was born into slavery in 1776. At 23 years old, he began to plan a rebellion with over 2000 enslaved people to forcibly take the Capitol and the Virginia State Armory to bargain for the release of Governor James Monroe in exchange for freeing Virginia’s enslaved population, according to the Library of Virginia.
On August 30, 1800, the planned rebellion took a sudden turn when a severe storm forced Gabriel to delay the event. Some enslaved people who were afraid of being caught reported the plan to their enslavers, forcing Gabriel and the others to flee and leading to his trial and execution on Oct. 10, 1880.
The VA Defenders have hosted Gabriel’s Gathering for 24 consecutive years. The original event took place to provide information about Gabriel and bring attention to the Shockoe Bottom African burial ground. The second year, they unveiled the burial ground’s state historic marker.
Ana Edwards, editorial board member of the VA Defenders newspaper and an assistant professor in the Department of African American Studies at VCU, feels that all Richmond residents should be aware of the history of the town they live in.
“Our particular U.S. history is one in which race has been an intrinsic part of it from the beginning, and yet we are not educated on that,” Edwards said. “We are raised in it, but we are not explicitly taught that race and racism are a part of our society.”
“They will begin to know that there’s a reason this happens every year, and it will take its place in annual events that mark the significance of Richmond’s history,” Edwards said.
Edwards said that the gathering being held every year will make it a part of annual events that mark the significance of Richmond’s history.
Phil Wilayto, editor of the VA Defenders newspaper, said the event honors the enslaved people who risked their lives or lost them.
“It’s an example of not just Gabriel, but the hundreds of people a part of this conspiracy that were willing to lose their lives, and at least 25 people lost their lives for the participation, so it’s an ongoing tremendous inspiration,” Wilayto said.
In 2023, VCU launched an initiative to investigate and reconcile the university’s historic ties to slavery, known as Project Gabriel, according to VCU News.
Stephanie Rizzi, the Director of VCU Project Gabriel, said Gabriel’s name was chosen for the program because it represented his fight for his freedom and the freedom of others.
“Through our work, we want to communicate that the sacrifices of our ancestors are worth remembering,” Rizzi said.