Community Connection ~ August 23, 2026: Fight for Freedom and Justice
In addition to less-substantial commemorations, like National Sponge Cake Day and National Levi Day, August 23 marks an observance that carries a great deal of weight: the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. If this is not a day that was already on your radar, consider learning more about it and adding it not just to your awareness but also your advocacy and your prayers.
In the case of this particular observance, the date carries a great deal of significance: on August 23, 1791, there was an uprising in Haiti that sparked the abolition of slavery on the island and played a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade as a whole. In fact, the Haitian Revolution is considered the only time an enslaved people freed themselves in order to take control of a country. And while it took until 1804 for Haiti to officially become a free republic, this world-changing accomplishment still occurred over 60 years before the end of slavery in the USA.
The International Day was first celebrated in 1998 and is the subject of a UNESCO resolution encouraging all member states to participate in its collective remembrance. We invite you to learn more about the history and continued observance of this day on UNESCO’s website.
In addition to deepening your awareness of abolition - and continued efforts to ensure the freedom of all people across the world - this day is a great opportunity to commit, or recommit, to advocating for justice and freedom in any way possible. There are multiple organizations working to end slavery and human trafficking worldwide; there is a dynamic listing on Wikipedia where you can learn more and find one with which you might like to get involved. But while there is of course an on-ramp to getting involved in this kind of advocacy work, something you can do immediately is begin praying for freedom, justice, and the welfare of those still being exploited today. You can also become involved in a more structured way by becoming a Prayer Partner of the International Justice Mission, one of the US-based organizations working globally to end slavery, trafficking, and abuse.
However you choose to become involved in the movement to remember abolition and further the cause of freedom, we hope you will continue that work well beyond August 23. And if you would like to share your prayers and plans of action, you can connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.