They should celebrate the date that slavery was outlawed in New York. What! There were slaves in New York?, Yep. And how about the day slaves were freed in Africa? When will that day happen?
Yes. And remember New York City tried to secede in early 1861. An independent nation to be thrive on commerce. A portion of upper New York state declared independence in 1777 and didn’t enter the US, as a part of NY state, till 1791. And they were the 11th state to ratify the Constitution, proposing another 30 or so amendments. Then there were the draft riots. NY has a long history of riots.
Rhode Island at one time was the largest port for slave ships.