Rep. Sykes Joins Community to Unveil the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza
AKRON, OH— Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) joined the Summit Suffrage Centennial Committee and the Sojourner Truth Statue Fund to unveil the new Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza and Statue.
“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of countless community partners, stakeholders, and organizers, this historic site will forever honor Sojourner Truth’s powerful legacy. People from throughout our communities and our nation can now visit this plaza to learn more about Truth’s work and the impact of her famous ‘Ain’t I A Woman’ speech. I am glad to celebrate this important addition to our community, and I look forward to how this space will continue to inspire generations to come,” said Rep. Sykes.
The Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza will be the first historic site in Akron that directly reflects and honors the experience of Black women. The Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza is built on the land where Old Stone Church once stood, the church where Sojourner Truth delivered her famous ‘Ain’t I a Woman’ speech. This project has been an act of community preservation so that Truth’s legacy is never forgotten. The plaza will feature a floral motif inspired by Truth’s family roots in Ghana and a life-sized statue of Sojourner Truth at the center.
In Congress, Rep. Sykes is committed to continuing the fight to advance civil rights for all Americans. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Sykes is a co-sponsor of the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Both bills work to protect Americans’ voting rights by making it easier to vote and ensuring that anti-voting proposals do not become law.
