On April 11 and 12 1963 a terrible attack by the Jamaican Government was laid against it’s own Rastafarian community. This has come to be known as “Bad Friday”, Rastas were rounded up, beaten and had their religious locks cut off. Eight people were killed in Coral Gardens (near Montego Bay) during the attacks.

This all happened just a year after Jamaica gained its independence from Great Britain and after a long build up of systemic oppression and hate towards the Rasta community.

On April 4, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness finally stood up and made a formal apology.

Global Voices wrote:

The prime minister announced that six lots at a historically relevant property at Pinnacle in rural St. Catherine would be declared as a protected heritage site by the Jamaican National Heritage Trust; he also promised assistance for the Coral Gardens Benevolent Society, and said a trust fund of no less than J $10 million (just over US $75,000) would be established for the benefit of survivors. The Pinnacle property has been the source of some controversy. It is regarded as the first Rastafari settlement in Jamaica and the former home of Garveyite Leonard Howell, who is widely considered the founder of the Rastafari movement. After Howell’s death, legal battles began over the ownership of the land and the Rastafarians were finally threatened with eviction in 2014.

Holness also acknowledged public defender Arlene Harrison Henry’s investigation and subsequent report on the matter, which was submitted to parliament in December 2015. In it, she recommended an apology and reparations for the survivors.

Prime Minister Holness tweeted a photograph of his meeting with Rastafarian elders:

We continue to strive to ensure that unjust incidents and discriminatory actions are never allowed to happen again. #RastaApologypic.twitter.com/6HQgBFpcNn

— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) April 4, 2017

Broadcast journalist Giovanni Dennis shared a series of reactions from Rastafarian leaders:

Chairman of #CoralGardens Benevolent Society, IKA TAFARA, says Rastafari all over Ja were affected.. not only those at #CORALGARDENSpic.twitter.com/hrzt2KUmfH

— Giovanni R. Dennis (@GiovanniRDennis) April 4, 2017

The response from Jamaicans on social media was largely positive — especially from those whose families had been affected:

My grandpa would approve. Better late than never #CoralGardens

— Miss Chievous (@JustCallMeFran) April 4, 2017

Read more here on Global Voices.