Tree Planting: Friday, March 31st at 1:00 p.m. City Hall Circle (260 High Street)
Lecture: Friday, March 31, 2017 @ 7:00 p.m.
Perth Amboy Free Public Library
196 Jefferson Street
Perth Amboy NJ, 08861
732-826-2600

Press Release
PERTH AMBOY – March 31st will be the 147th anniversary of Thomas Mundy Peterson becoming the first African-American to cast a vote under the 1870 Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Perth Amboy has long taken pride in Peterson and his place in Civil Rights history. After casting his vote, he could have disappeared into history. Yet instead, he fully embraced civic life as a citizen. How Peterson took advantage of this new opportunity is an aspect of the story that few know about.

“Perth Amboy is one of the few municipalities in the State of New Jersey that still holds such remarkable national history. We are deemed the “City of Firsts” for one because of Thomas Mundy Peterson’s movement, which remains a significant detail in history taught in our public schools locally and one that should be known by every student in America,” said Mayor Wilda Diaz.

New Jersey historian, author, and lecturer, Gordon Bond, will be exploring this aspect in his presentation, “Citizen Peterson: How Thomas Mundy Peterson Made the Most of His Historic Vote.” He will be talking specifically about how his original research revealed some of Peterson’s forgotten participation in Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, and State politics.

Bond will also provide an update on the release of a pamphlet about Peterson he is writing for the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission that will be made available free of charge later this year.

Additionally, the 1683 Society Inc., a nonprofit organization will honor Thomas Mundy Peterson & Marcus Curless, respectively the 1st & 2nd African American voters under the 15th Amendment in the United States of America.   Their votes took place in our Historic Perth Amboy City Hall on March 31, 1870.  A tree with a cast bronze marker will be planted to commemorate the 147th Anniversary of their votes at City Hall Circle located at 260 High Street at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 31st.