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The Freedom Suits Memorial Project is dedicated to 400 courageous slaves who filed suit in Missouri Courts for their
freedom and were assisted by lawyers working without pay.
The Freedom
Suits Memorial Steering Committee announced that they are partnering with the Bar Association of
Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) to unveil a 14-foot-tall bronze sculpture. This unveiling will be held on Law Day
next year – May 2, 2022.
The sculpture will be placed at the Civil Courts Building downtown, aligning with the Gateway Mall and the Old
Courthouse, where most of these suits were tried.
This project was inspired by many who told their account and experiences suing for their freedom, but none are more
famous than plaintiffs Harriett and Dredd Scott.
The Scotts filed suit 57 years after the Emancipation Proclamation – and it was of course a challenge for a slave to
get to court. Still, once there, these slaves had a legal precedent “Once Free, Always Free.”
Under this theory, a slave who had been moved to a free state or territory for any length of time then returned to a
slave state or territory could sue for his or her freedom. In the St. Louis region, a group of anti-slavery lawyers
worked hard to extend this legal theory.
They hoped to abolish slavery without a violent struggle by taking these matters to court. These lawyers freed many
slaves, including Harriett and Dredd Scott. However, the Scotts had a more difficult time suing for their freedom.
The Scotts original owner had died while their case was pending, so the owner’s widow and her brother appealed the
St. Louis verdict, which went all the way up to the Supreme Court.
The decision that was made is considered the worst in the history of the Supreme Court. It held that all people of
African ancestry — slaves and those who were free — could never become citizens of the United States and therefore
could not sue in federal court.
The court also ruled that the federal government did not have the power to prohibit slavery in its territories.
To donate to the Freedom Suits Memorial, click here.
Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Gary Burger who has more than 30 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney. Gary’s robust legal knowledge is recognized by his peers as demonstrated by his industry awards and frequent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) lectures.
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