The now two-piece monument honors Silas Shearman, the acknowledged leader of the Underground Railroad line through Jamestown, and Catherine Harris, a free Black woman and station master whose home on West Seventh Street is the site of a historical marker. The statues were recently vandalized with messages of hate drawn on with marker.

A third statue was stolen earlier in the spring, with its whereabouts still unknown.

“It’s distressing the damage done to the memorial,” said Chambers, one of about 100 who attended the rally organized by the Jamestown Justice Coalition.

Among those who spoke Saturday was Paul Leone, a local historian who outlined Jamestown’s important role in the Underground Railroad movement and why the tableau is significant.

Local historian Paul Leone is pictured speaking during Saturday’s rally to discuss a brief history of the local Underground Railroad movement. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

Falconer resident Nancy Kingsley was among many interviewed at the park who said they were disturbed by the vandalism and wanted to show their support. “It’s just not right,” she said of what was drawn on the statues.

The Jamestown Police Department last week said it was investigating the incident with the aid of the FBI. The vandalism included drawing a Swastika and the words “White Power” on the statues created by the late David Poulin.

At the time of the incident, Police Chief Timothy Jackson said, “The hateful, racist, anti-Semitic act of vandalism on the Underground Railroad tableau is detestable, and morally reprehensible.”

Jamestown resident Mary Avery said she supported efforts by the Jamestown Justice Coalition to shed light on recent events — viewed by some as an escalation following the previous theft — and to organize a rally to educate the public. Regarding the recent vandalism, she said, “I’m appalled by what happened to the statues. To think someone would deface them is sad.”

Justin Hubbard of the coalition questioned those in attendance how many learned of the local Underground Railroad movement in school.

“I keep hearing that it must have just been some kids,” Hubbard said, “but if it was just some kids then we need to take a look at what we’re teaching our kids. Because when something like that happens, when our statues are stolen, when white supremacist symbols and racist remarks are put on our statues, that is an attack on the Black community of Jamestown. That’s exactly what it is, you’re attacking the Black community of Jamestown, and when you attack the Black community of Jamestown you attack all of Jamestown.”

Hubbard relayed that he was taking part in a panel discussion on racial injustice at Chautauqua Institution when he learned that the Underground Railroad tableau had been defaced. He said it was no coincidence that a statue had been stolen just recently and that Dow Park was the site of several rallies last year for Black lives. “That is not a coincidence,” he said. “This is not some random act. And when something like that happens, we cannot be scared off into silence.”

Anyone with any information regarding the vandalism or theft is asked to call the Jamestown Police Department at 483-7537 or the anonymous tips line at 483-8477.