Freedom on Move Research Halted by NEH Stop-Work Order

Recent protests in Central Florida have drawn thousands of participants expressing opposition to President Donald Trump's immigration policies, particularly the mass deportations carried out by government agents, which many view as violations of constitutional rights and due process. Meanwhile, historical and genealogical research projects continue to uncover and preserve the stories of enslaved people who sought freedom in America, emphasizing their courage and resistance that shaped the nation’s history. One notable effort highlighted a family reunion honoring Lewis Brady, a Black man who escaped slavery and lived a remarkable life in New York, illustrating the enduring impact of these narratives. The Freedom on the Move project, despite recent funding challenges, has digitized thousands of advertisements placed by enslavers seeking runaway slaves, providing invaluable records for descendants and historians alike. Additionally, the legacy of abolitionist movements in the 19th century is being revisited, including the political activism of figures like A.T. Still, MD, DO, who was involved in the Free State Party opposing slavery’s expansion in Kansas. Echoing past struggles, reflections on Frederick Douglass’s 1857 response to the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision underscore the ongoing fight for constitutional rights and resistance against systemic oppression.