Amistad Memorial, New Haven

The Amistad Memorial in New Haven is a powerful bronze sculpture by artist Ed Hamilton, commemorating the 1839 Amistad Affair—an iconic event in the fight for freedom and justice in the United States. Located directly in front of New Haven City Hall on Church Street, the memorial stands on the very spot where the 53 Mende captives from present-day Sierra Leone were jailed while awaiting trial for mutiny and murder.

The captives were kidnapped, shipped illegally to Cuba via the Tecora, and then placed on La Amistad. On July 2, 1839, Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinqué) led a revolt, but the ship was steered north and later seized off Long Island. Brought to New Haven, the captives faced trial in a landmark Supreme Court case. With community support and defense by John Quincy Adams, they were found to have acted in self-defense, won their freedom, and were welcomed into the New Haven community.

The memorial is structured with three sides showing Joseph Cinqué in different stages of his journey: in Africa, during his court trial, and as a free man. A fourth side, visible only from the upper floors of City Hall, shows a haunting image of a face and hands submerged in water—interpreted by scholar Laura Macaluso as a tribute to those who drowned in the Atlantic.

Hamilton used relief sculpture to bring these scenes to life, blending high relief for the prominent figures with low relief to include other captives and abolitionists, creating a multi-dimensional story carved in bronze. The Amistad Memorial is not just a historical marker—it’s a tribute to resilience, justice, and the enduring legacy of those who fought for freedom against overwhelming odds.