Content warning: historical racialized violence
One hundred thirty years ago today Tony Champion and Michael Kelly were lynched on my street. Six months later Andrew Ford was lynched at the same location, according to 'LYNCHING VICTIMS IN GAINESVILLE, ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA RECONSTRUCTION ERA LYNCHING IN GAINESVILLE' (https://spark.adobe.com/page/YfdIIHQiMUtYt/) a report from the Equal Justice Initiative (https://eji.org/about/). The report provides details about Reconstruction Era lynchings in Alachua County and Gainesville. The most detailed portions of the report focus on 2 separate lynchings in my neighborhood.
On 17 February, 1891 (130 years ago, today), Tony Champion and Michael Kelly were taken from the Alachua County Jail by a mob of between 200 and 300 men. Mr. Champion and Mr. Kelly were taken to 'old Savage lot' (I spoke with the author of the report, local historian Karen Kirkman who confirmed that there was a treeline along present day NE 5th Ave where it crosses NE 6th St), where they were hanged to death from tree limbs.
Six months later, on the night of 24 August, 1891, Andrew Ford was abducted by a white mob from the Alachua County jail and killed by hanging in the 'old Savage lot'.
At 7 PM tonight, I will go outside of my house to light a candle and observe 3 minutes of silence to remember Mr. Champion, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Ford. Will you join me in our streets, to remember these victims of white supremacy?
The county will have a Soil Collection Ceremony this Saturday at noon at the Alachua County Administration Building (https://alachuacounty.us/news/article/pages/Gainesville-Soil-Collection-Ceremony.aspx). It will also be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/Alachua-County-Community-Remembrance-Project-106626307925084.
#BlackLivesMatter #SayTheirNames #NeverAgain
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