Sounds Of Freedom Coming

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This book is about the rescue of Jerry in Syracuse, NY on October 1, 1851.
He had escaped from slavery in Missouri, where he used to be called William Henry. He was light brown in color with reddish brown hair. Jerry could read and write, which was very unusual for a man who had been enslaved. Jerry was working as a barrel maker and carpenter. He was taking care of himself as a free man.

The fugitive slave law was passed in 1850. Under this law, a kidnapper could travel to Syracuse to ask a judge to return a freedom seeker to the man who used to own him. Syracuse had a very active abolitionist community. The year before the president had sent the secretary of state to warn the citizens of Syracuse not to disobey the new Fugitive slave law, or there would be consequences. It took a lot of planning, and two rescue attempts to free Jerry, before he was finally transported to Canada safely. More than 2500 people showed up to protest and to help Jerry escape. They faced possible jail time and fines if caught for helping.
It took courageous resistance to stand up to an unjust law that intended to force black people back into slavery. Ordinary citizens choose to resist this unjust law. They decided to help free Jerry.

Freeing Jerry is said to have been one of the sparks that helped ignite the Civil War. The Jerry Rescue Monument is located in Clinton Square, Syracuse NY and commemorates this historical rescue of Jerry.