Oct. 31, 2008 – Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. has proclaimed Saturday, Nov. 1, as "David Hamilton Jackson – (Liberty) Day" in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Born on St. Croix in 1884, David Hamilton Jackson was a great native son who 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, especially with regards to fighting against injustice and inequality, D. Hamilton Jackson established the first labor union in 1915 to improve wages and working conditions of the people of the Danish West Indies.
In 1915, D. Hamilton 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.
D. Hamilton Jackson, while serving as judge under the U.S. Naval Administration, was instrumental in the formulation of the Organic Act of 1936, guaranteeing civil liberties, which later became the base upon which our current Revised Organic Act of 1954 is based.
D. Hamilton Jackson's invaluable contributions have greatly enriched the territory and the lives of many Virgin Islanders.
Gov. deJongh calls upon the people as well as civic and and other community organizations of the V.I. to join with him 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.