Trying to start construction in lower Manhattan in 1992 on a major archaeological discovery-site, not only violated federal guidelines, it also dishonored and disrespected a large segment of the community. "The mother of all controversies" naturally ensued. The bodies removed from the Burial Ground for scientific research were originally scheduled to be returned and re-interred at the Burial Ground in 1999. They were finally returned in October 2003. The concluding segment of the series chronicles how, in a classic David-Goliath struggle of civic activism, a grassroots coalition of people of all races battled the Federal bureaucracy to rescue and preserve a sacred, now historical Landmark. It documents the current status of this preservation-memorialization struggle. It draws the parallels between the long, historic struggle for freedom, dignity, and full first-class citizenship, with the modern battle to properly preserve, honor and memorialize this major, quite sacred, archaeological discovery. It also highlights how that New York struggle also inspired other grassroots preservationists to take-up and champion their own local causes.

Trying to start construction in lower Manhattan in 1992 on a major archaeological discovery-site, not only violated federal guidelines, it also dishonored and disrespected a large segment of the community. "The mother of all controversies" naturally ensued. The bodies removed from the Burial Ground for scientific research were originally scheduled to be returned and re-interred at the Burial Ground in 1999. They were finally returned in October 2003. The concluding segment of the series chronicles how, in a classic David-Goliath struggle of civic activism, a grassroots coalition of people of all races battled the Federal bureaucracy to rescue and preserve a sacred, now historical Landmark. It documents the current status of this preservation-memorialization struggle. It draws the parallels between the long, historic struggle for freedom, dignity, and full first-class citizenship, with the modern battle to properly preserve, honor and memorialize this major, quite sacred, archaeological discovery. It also highlights how that New York struggle also inspired other grassroots preservationists to take-up and champion their own local causes.