July 18th: The Other Independence Day
Visitors to The Sixth Square know that 152 years ago today Jane Johnson stood and expressed her freedom. This declaration, this living, breathing embrace of independence took place at the foot of Walnut Street just before 5PM - as the ferry to Camden prepared to launch. (If this is your first encounter with the story, scroll back a ways to learn details of the story.)
It’s like July 4th is our institutional Independence Day. And July 18th, Jane Johnson Day, is our personal Independence Day. Or it should be.
Those of us who can will gather by the river today to remember, reflect and consider the fate of Jane Johnson’s memory. There’s no question it should be. The question is how.
See you at the entrance to the Independence Seaport Museum at 4:30PM.
