RICHMOND (Virginia): A slave who was hanged for leading a failed revolt in 1800 has won a symbolic pardon from Virginia’s governor.

Gabriel Prosser and 34 supporters were executed in Richmond on Aug 30, 1800, after two slaves revealed the planned uprising in Richmond, known as Gabriel’s Rebellion.In an informal pardon, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Prosser was motivated by “his devotion to the ideals of the American revolution – it was worth risking death to secure liberty”.

“Gabriel’s cause – the end of slavery and the furtherance of equality of all people – has prevailed in the light of history,” Kaine wrote to the Virginia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which sought the pardon. “It is important to acknowledge that history favourably regards Gabriel’s cause while consigning legions who sought to keep him and others in chains to be forgotten.”

Prosser promoted an uprising by thousands of slaves 31 years before the better-known Nat Turner insurrection.

Gabriel’s Rebellion was snuffed out by then-Gov. James Monroe, the future president, who was tipped off by a slaveholder. Prosser and his followers were hanged.

King Salim Khalfani, Virginia State Conference executive director of the NAACP, said Kaine’s action properly honours Prosser and his followers.—AP