We, the undersigned, respectfully call on the Kushner Companies and the City of Perth Amboy to allow and to support an archaeological excavation at the historic site of Thomas Mundy Peterson’s home—before redevelopment begins. Thomas Mundy Peterson was the first African American to vote under the newly ratified 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution on March 31, 1870. That groundbreaking moment happened right here in Perth Amboy, NJ. The site of his former home holds untold potential for uncovering physical links to this remarkable chapter in American democracy.

We want to be clear:
We are not asking for redevelopment to stop, to be delayed, or to be hindered in any way.
We fully support the revitalization and future use of this land. Our only request is permission to conduct a professional archaeological dig during the short window that remains—before construction erases what may still lie beneath. This dig is estimated to take two weeks at most.

This site holds powerful local, state, and national significance. It is where a new chapter in democracy began, a chapter that for the first time guaranteed and protected the right to vote for Black men throughout the country.

The City of Perth Amboy once supported this excavation; however, it has since stepped away from that approval. The Kushner Companies, which owns the land, has refused to grant access for this vital dig to take place. We are urging both parties to reverse course and to act in the interest of history, heritage, and truth.

We are living in a time when African American history is being censored, sanitized, and erased —from school textbooks, museum displays, and public memory. Voter rights are under attack, echoing the very struggles Thomas Mundy Peterson faced over 150 years ago. Allowing this excavation to proceed is not just about unearthing the past—it is about preserving the legacy of a man who stood up for democracy when it mattered most.

To silence this history now would be to repeat the mistakes of the past.

We must honor Thomas Mundy Peterson’s bravery and the significance of that first vote cast. Allowing an archeological investigation gives us the potential to preserve artifacts that may remain at the site, and could help aid in telling Peterson’s story more fully.

Let this be more than a dig. Let it be a declaration:
We will not let this history be erased.
We will not allow this site to be forgotten.
We demand the right to uncover and preserve the truth.

Let us dig.
For history. For justice. For the truth.

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People