Buckeye Talks on Tap - Bill Anderson’s Fight for Freedom, Marion, Ohio 1839

Featured Speaker:  Ohio State Marion Academic Advisor and Student Researcher, Sharon Gattshall  

Bill Anderson, a respected Marion resident, was accused by men from Virginia of being their enslaved property. Under Ohio’s Black Laws, he was jailed pending trial. The verdict shocked many—but the aftermath was even more explosive. A riot broke out between pro- and anti-slavery groups, drawing national media attention. This powerful yet little-known story of resistance, justice, and community solidarity not only shaped Marion’s identity but also echoed across a nation grappling with slavery and freedom.