Today in History, June 15,1920
The Duluth Lynchings--
On this day, 100 years ago, three African American Circus workers, Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie, who were being held as suspects by police in an assault case, were taken from Jail and lynched by a White Mob of thousands in Duluth Minnesota.
Rumors had spread that six Circus workers had raped and robbed a 19 year old woman.
A physicians exam subsequently found no evidence of rape.
A physicians exam subsequently found no evidence of rape.
The 1920 lynching was the only known instance of lynching of Blacks in Minnesota.Twenty other lynchings had been documented, mostly of Native Americans and Whites. Three men were convicted of rioting, who served no more than 15 months. No one was ever prosecuted for murder.
The State of Minnesota passed anti lynching legislation in 1921, and none have been recorded since. In 2003 the City erected a memorial to the lynched men.
The Men were arrested on the false testimony of two local white teenagers, James Sullivan, and Irene Tusken, aged 18 and 19. They snuck into the Circus to watch the workers dismantle the menagerie.
Though it is unknown exactly what happened, all the circus workers were rounded up by police, and the teenagers picked 6 as the accused offenders. They were arrested and being held in jail, as rumors about the rape that never happened spread like wildfire.
The mob that formed outside the Jail was estimated at various points at anywhere from between 1,000 and 10,000 people. The Police were ordered not to use their weapons to protect the prisoners, and the Mob used heavy timber and rails to break down the entrance, storm in, and seize 3 of the men. They held a Kangaroo court, convicted the three, and hanged them in public from a light pole. The riot was bad enough that the National Guard was called in to restore order. Again, no one was ever prosecuted for the Murder. Afterward, a Grand Jury investigated the Police, the Police Chief was deemed incompetent and the Department overhauled. However, several of the remaining prisoners were convicted of rape and assault and jailed. one was acquitted, another sentenced and was paroled after 4 years. and the NAACP suceeded in getting charges dismissed for those remaining.
The mob that formed outside the Jail was estimated at various points at anywhere from between 1,000 and 10,000 people. The Police were ordered not to use their weapons to protect the prisoners, and the Mob used heavy timber and rails to break down the entrance, storm in, and seize 3 of the men. They held a Kangaroo court, convicted the three, and hanged them in public from a light pole. The riot was bad enough that the National Guard was called in to restore order. Again, no one was ever prosecuted for the Murder. Afterward, a Grand Jury investigated the Police, the Police Chief was deemed incompetent and the Department overhauled. However, several of the remaining prisoners were convicted of rape and assault and jailed. one was acquitted, another sentenced and was paroled after 4 years. and the NAACP suceeded in getting charges dismissed for those remaining.
As an example to us today, the City of Duluth took steps to commemorate the victims of the lynching, with a Memorial, and a Scholarship fund in their names. The great-great Grandson of one of the most prominent leaders of the lynch mob, Warren Read, spoke at the dedication of the Memorial, where he spoke of raising his children in the spirit of love, tolerance, and acceptance. He wrote a book titled "The Lyncher in Me" about his family history.
Bob Dylan, wrote a song about the lynching called "Desolation Row", as he was born in Duluth and his father Abraham Zimmerman, lived two blocks away from the site of the lynching and was a witness.
The lynching also caused flare up of racial violence against Blacks in neighboring areas, such as Superior Wisconsin, where the Police Chief pledged to "run all the idle Negroes out of town for good".
Miinnesota posthumously Pardoned Max Mason who had been convicted of Rape on June 12, 2020. The Great Nephew of Irene Tusken, the teenager who lied about the Rape, is currently the Chief of Police of Duluth.
