In 2021, research revealed that prominent abolitionist Frederick Douglass, one of the most influential voices in the fight for freedom and reform, delivered a speech at Hope Hall during his time in Liverpool in 1860. Together with Falling Doors Theatre Company, we issued an open call to local artists to design a permanent plaque honouring Douglass’s legacy and his connection to the city.
The winning design was created by Vicki Opomu and is now installed on the front of the Everyman, to the right of the main entrance. It was unveiled on Friday 19 January 2024, exactly 164 years after Douglass addressed audiences at Hope Hall.
The plaque features Douglass’s powerful words:
“Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist.” Frederick Douglass, 1818–1895
An American social reformer, abolitionist and statesman, who spoke at Hope Hall on this site in 1860.
The plaque stands as a permanent reminder of Liverpool’s role in global movements for justice, and of Douglass’s belief in free expression, a value that continues to shape our ethos today.
