The governor has proclaimed Monday D. Hamilton Jackson Day in the Virgin Islands and has closed government offices and schools so people can take part in events taking place to commemorate Hamilton’s life.
The events are being organized by the Grove Place Action Committee and will take place Monday on St. Croix.
The holiday is usually celebrated Nov. 1, which fell on a Sunday this year.
"I call upon the people, civic and other community organizations of the Virgin Islands to join with me in this observance and pay tribute to David Hamilton Jackson for his outstanding and distinguished public service, and his contributions to the advancement of the press and self-government that we all enjoy today," Gov. John deJongh Jr. said in a Government House statement.
Born on St. Croix in 1884, David Hamilton Jackson served as a labor leader, politician, educator, lawyer, newspaper editor, judge, banker, statesman and community activist.
As a powerful labor leader, known for his concern and love for his people and the community, Jackson established the first labor union in 1915 to improve wages and working conditions of the people of the Danish West Indies.
In 1915, Jackson traveled to Denmark, where he succeeded in having the Danish Government revoke the royal edict prohibiting privately owned newspapers and, as a champion of freedom of the press, established the first privately owned newspaper, The Herald, where he served as owner and editor. Through the power of the press, Jackson was able to bring about social and economic change to better the lives of residents of the territory.
While serving as judge under the U.S. Naval Administration, Jackson was instrumental in the formulation of the Organic Act of 1936, upon which the current Revised Organic Act of 1954 is based.
