Frederick Douglass statue unveiled in St. Augustine as part of America250 celebration

The governor unveiled a statue of Frederick Douglass in St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitución on a day of America250 events, praising Douglass as an influential orator and a model for ‘‘the human spirit.’’ The governor credited the Florida Department of State with organizing the commemoration and thanked Cord Byrd, the department’s Northeast Florida zone representative.

The governor said the Department of State has ‘‘spearhead[ed] the America250’’ programming in Florida, adding that the state had previously secured a George Washington statue on loan from Mount Vernon for display in the Florida Capitol. Cord Byrd, who followed the governor, thanked Mayor Sykes Klein and local officials and encouraged residents to follow America250 events on social media and the department website.

Onstage remarks traced Douglass’s arc from enslavement to leading abolitionist and civic figure. The governor highlighted Douglass’s self-education and oratory, saying his life ‘‘was spent obviously fighting for freedom’’ and noting Douglass’s 1889 tour that drew large crowds in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Daryl Roussan, speaking for the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, called Douglass a ‘‘foundational’’ figure and invited Sen. Tracy Davis to comment.

Davis praised the memorial and said the legislature is working to support a Florida Historic Black Museum, thanking the governor for ‘‘dollars and cents’’ already provided. She said lawmakers are seeking to create a committee and task force to advance the museum project.

Event organizers and officials urged families and students to use the memorial as a teaching moment: the governor described signage at the site that summarizes Douglass’s biography and urged young people to learn about ‘‘freedom [and] inequality.’’ The ceremony concluded with officials inviting attendees to view the statue and take photographs.

The memorial forms part of a yearlong America250 slate of events in Florida; officials encouraged public participation and online engagement for scheduled programs.