The annual Slavery Remembrance Day Walk of Remembrance and Libation took place in Liverpool today (August 23), honouring the millions of African men, women, and children who suffered through transatlantic trafficking and the enduring legacy of slavery.
Route through the city centre
The procession began at Williamson Square and concluded at the Piermaster’s House green, travelling through Liverpool’s city centre and passing key historical sites tied to Liverpool’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. Along the route, speakers, historians, activists, and artists offered powerful reflections, performances, public testimonies, speeches, and poetry.
Ceremony and performances
The commemoration featured a traditional libation ceremony—a ritual of honouring ancestors through spoken tributes and ritual offerings—accompanied by live music, drumming, and performance art. Participants were invited to acknowledge the impact of slavery on generations past and present while recognising the resilience, resistance, and cultural contributions of African and diasporic communities.
Key moments and speakers
Michelle Charters, Head of the International Slavery Museum, spoke at the event, as did Michelle Peterkin-Walker, a socially-engaged artist, activist, and videographer from Liverpool. Dancers performed at stops including The Bluecoat and Clayton Square, and flowers were handed out during the day. People cast flowers into the River Mersey in a ritual remembering and honouring ancestors who suffered through the transatlantic slave trade.
The events aim to promote public education, memorialisation, and ongoing efforts toward racial justice. Calls for social justice were made at key historic locations, with the day seeing acts of remembrance and public testimony.
