Lawmakers want to dig deeper into a possible slave burial ground in Brooklyn.
The diary of prominent 19th century landowner Adriance Van Brunt suggests a lot on 9th Street near 3rd Avenue in Gowanus could hold the remains of the family's slaves.
Before a school is built over the lot, state senator Jesse Hamilton and a group of others want to make sure the land contains no remains.
They're asking the state for a larger excavation.
"We stand here today on a sacred burial ground of slaves and Revolutionary War veterans," said State Senator Jesse Hamilton. "We cannot desecrate this burial ground. I know we need to build a school to alleviate overcrowding, but we can't build a school on a foundation of ignorance."
In his diary, Van Brunt mentioned slave activities, deaths and burials on his property.
The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation says further investigation of the site is warranted.