It's Been 100 Years Since Three Black Men Were Lynched In Duluth
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Monday marks 100 years since three black men were lynched in Duluth, and Gov. Tim Walz traveled to the city to officially recognize Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie Commemoration Day.
On June 15, 1920, Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie were lynched by a mob after being wrongly accused of raping a white woman.
"The foundational principles of our State and Nation were horrifically and inexcusably violated on June 15, 1920, when Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie, three Black men, were wrongfully accused of a crime," Walz proclaimed. "We must not allow such communal atrocities to happen again. Everyone must be aware of this tragic history."
A fourth man, Max Mason, was convicted and jailed in connection to the alleged rape. Last Friday, Mason was granted the state's first posthumous pardon.
RELATED: Minnesota's First Posthumous Pardon Granted To Black Man Convicted In Century-Old Duluth Case
In remembrance of the victims, the Minnesota Historical Society is hosting a virtual exhibit this week featuring newspaper articles and artifacts.