Historical Events tagged with "lynching"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Social Movements & Civil Rights

Lynching of Emmett Till in Mississippi

August 28th, 1955 69 years ago

Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American, was lynched after he allegedly whistled at a white woman named Carolyn Bryant in Money, Mississippi. After being kidnapped from his great-uncle's home, Till's mutilated body was found in the Tallahatchie River days later. His mother, Mamie Till, insisted on an open-casket funeral to show the brutality of the crime, which drew national attention and outrage, highlighting racial violence in America.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith

August 7th, 1930 94 years ago

In Marion, Indiana, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith were lynched by a mob following their alleged involvement in the murder of a white man. The incident garnered national attention and was one of the last confirmed lynchings of black individuals in the Northern United States. Approximately 5,000 witnesses observed the brutal killings, reflecting the racial tensions of the time and leaving a mark on the community.

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Crime & Law

Kantō Massacre Against Koreans and Chinese

September 2nd, 1923 101 years ago

Following the Great Kantō earthquake, widespread panic and rumors led to violent mob actions against Korean and Chinese populations in Japan. The fear of sabotage resulted in a series of brutal lynchings and attacks, causing thousands of deaths and displacements over several weeks in the aftermath of the disaster, reflecting deep-seated prejudices and fears within Japanese society.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Race Riots Erupt in Omaha, Nebraska

September 28th, 1919 105 years ago

A significant race riot broke out in Omaha, Nebraska following the arrest of a Black man named Will Brown who was accused of assaulting a white woman. A mob formed to demand Brown’s lynching after rumors spread of his guilt. Tensions escalated, leading to violence as white citizens attacked the Black community. The riot resulted in numerous deaths and widespread property destruction, marking a stark moment of racial unrest in the city.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Silent Parade Protests Racial Violence

July 28th, 1917 107 years ago

The Silent Parade in New York City was a powerful demonstration organized by African American leaders to protest against the rise of racial violence, including lynchings and murders, faced by their community. Participants marched silently down Fifth Avenue, wearing black attire, and holding placards that highlighted the injustices. This event drew significant attention, showcasing the unity of African Americans in the face of systemic racism and calling for justice and civil rights.

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Crime & Law

Lynching of Jesse Washington in Waco, Texas

May 15th, 1916 108 years ago

Jesse Washington, a seventeen-year-old farmworker, was accused of raping and murdering a white woman named Lucy Fryer in Waco, Texas. After a hastily conducted trial, Washington was convicted. On May 15, he was taken from the courthouse by an angry mob, who brutally lynched him in a public display of violence. His body was set on fire, and a crowd gathered to watch, some taking photographs of the horrific event.

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Crime & Law

Leo Frank Lynched by a Mob in Georgia

August 17th, 1915 109 years ago

Leo Frank, a Jewish American factory manager, was lynched by a mob in Marietta, Georgia, after his death sentence for the murder of Mary Phagan was commuted by Governor John Slaton. The case garnered national attention due to its ethnic and racial undertones and highlighted issues of anti-Semitism in the United States at the time.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

The Slocum Massacre in Texas

July 29th, 1910 114 years ago

A violent race riot erupted in Slocum, Texas, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 African Americans over two days. Sparked by tensions between the black community and local whites, reports indicate an armed white mob descended upon the town in retaliation to an earlier incident involving an altercation. The resulting chaos led to mass shootings, lynchings, and arson, as the mob targeted black residents, leaving many families devastated and a community in ruins.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Ida B. Wells Releases Southern Horrors

October 26th, 1892 132 years ago

Ida B. Wells published 'Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases' to expose the barbaric practice of lynching in the American South. This publication arose from her investigations into the lynching of Black individuals, particularly the case of three Black men in Memphis accused of raping a white woman. Wells used her platform as a journalist to highlight the racial injustices and societal implications of lynching, pursuing the truth about these brutal acts and rallying for anti-lynching legislation.

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