State representatives are urging February 14 Frederick Douglass Day

MP Jennifer Word, who represents Hillsdale, with the Douglass statue on campus. With kind permission Jonathan Meckel

Michigan's celebrations on February 14th could soon extend beyond Valentine's Day, since the state's House of Representatives of the state of the representative of Rep. Jennifer Wortzz, a Republican who represents Hillsdale to recognize it as Frederick Douglass.

“Douglass is one of the most fundamental political supporters and talented speakers in American history,” said Wortz. “His enormous achievements, his character and skills justify a day of commemoration, and I hope that my solution inspires my colleagues and me to control itself so hard for the matter of human freedom.”

House Resolution 23, the first draft law adopted by Wortz, formalizes a tradition that the predecessor of Wortz, the former representative Andrew Fink, began to recognize the historical ties of Douglass to Hillsdale County. Douglass visited the Hillsdale College in 1863 and 1888 and gave talk about the moral and political challenges of his time. College is reminiscent of these visits with a Douglass statue next to Lane Hall.

Peter Jennings, deputy professor of leadership studies, said that Douglass visited Hillsdale on January 21, 1863 during a recruitment campaign of 2,000 miles after the emancipation declaration and asked African -American men to get involved in the Union Army.

“'Men of color to the arms! Now or never! 'That was the topline on a broad side that Douglass had used to ask formerly enslaved men to rise in the dignity of our masculinity and show from our own right arms that we are worth being more freer, “said Jennings.

Wortz said she felt privileged to represent a district in which Douglass took place.

“It seemed appropriate for this office to further recognize it,” said Wortz.

Wortz explained why February 14th – Valentine's Day – was selected to honor Douglass.

“On February 14, the resolution explains the memorial date for Douglass because this was the day he wanted to remember as a birthday,” said Wortz in a press release. “Although he did not remember his exact date of birth, Douglass decided to celebrate her on Valentine's Day because his mother Harriet Bailey described him as her little Valentine's Day.”

Senator Joe Bellino, a Republican who represents Monroe and part of Hillsdale County, said that he would support a similar resolution in the Senate, especially in view of the abolitionist history of Michigans.

“In my district, I am so lucky to have a rich story of people fighting slavery,” said Bellino. “Frederick Douglass, who took a trip to Hillsdale and designed our story, is just wonderful.”

Bellino also emphasized how important it is to teach the story exactly.

“If we don't teach the story like this, children will never know why we arrived here today, how we did it,” said Bellino. “It is important that we remember characters like Frederick Douglass.”

Senator Jonathan Lindsey, a Republican who represents Coldwater and part of Hillsdale County, also praised Word.

“I recommend the efforts of representative WORTZ on this important topic,” said Lindsey.

Word of historical commemoration, Wortz, parallels between Douglass's fight against slavery and modern concerns about human trafficking. She said millions remained enslaved worldwide.

“If you believe that slavery is dead in the United States, it is not,” said Wortz. “It is alive and it is an evil that we have to work to prevent.”

She quoted a police with the police in which the officers described a trade with victims between Camden, Michigan and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“It happens here and we have to act,” said Wortz. “The guidelines in our state have made it easier for dealers to use minors and we have to address it.”

When Wortz, in which he argued that the truth of Douglass' 1863 Hillsdale spoke in which he argued, he praised his legacy as a lawyer for human rights and political truth.

“His words remind us that there was no new truth. The mistake could be old or new, but the truth was as old as the universe, ”said Wortz.

Wortz said she encouraged Michigan residents to learn more about Douglass's legacy and the struggle for human freedom.

“The story is repeated,” said Wortz. “We have a lot to learn from numbers like Frederick Douglass, and I hope that this dissolution has renewed the appreciation for his life and work.”

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