A Statement from the US General Services Administration

October 4, 2003

GSA is honored to provide the leadership, manpower, resources, and funding for the African Burial Ground Project. We are proud of the extraordinary leadership demonstrated by GSA Administrator Stephen A. Perry and the diligence and persistence of the New York based project team headed by Regional Administrator Karl H. Reichelt.

GSA takes great pride in the widespread acknowledgement that our recent efforts have transformed this project from a source of controversy to an achievement of historic proportion. Today’s conclusion of weeklong ceremonies commemorating the African Burial Ground reinterment represents an affirmation of GSA's overall progress and commitment toward successfully completing all elements of the African Burial Ground Project.

Since 2001, GSA has taken significant steps to move this project forward on several fronts:

• The historic and scientific work funded by GSA and underway at Howard University;

• Today’s reinterment following a five-state, six-city program conceived and managed for GSA by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture;

• The development and construction of an on-site memorial and accompanying educational center by fall 2005 through a GSA partnership with the National Park Service.

These are accomplishments long overdue, but when completed will live on in cultural and historic importance for generations.

We additionally owe a debt of gratitude for our many project partners, without whom today's events would not be possible:

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Bronx Council for the Arts
Howard University
National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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