EJI will dedicate a new monument to women, men, and children who were victims of racial terror lynchings or violence during the 1950s. The dedication ceremony will take place on Monday, April 29, at 3:30 pm at the Peace and Justice Memorial Center in Montgomery, Alabama.
The dedication is part of EJI’s 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center later that evening. The dedication and evening concert also mark the first anniversary of the opening of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice documents the era of racial terror lynchings between 1877 and 1950. Racially motivated violence and lynchings continued after 1950, with attacks often targeting early civil rights movement leaders. The names inscribed on the Monument at the Peace and Justice Memorial Center commemorate 24 men and women lynched or killed in racially motivated attacks during the 1950s, including Emmett Till and voting rights activists Harry and Harriette Moore. The deaths memorialized at the Center sparked protests and activism that fueled more than a decade of social change. EJI remembers them for their leadership, their humanity, and their critical role in a long and continuing struggle.
“We are very pleased to extend our work recognizing victims of racial terror and lynching violence by honoring 24 people who were tragically killed in the 1950s,” EJI Director Bryan Stevenson said. “Our new monument continues our work of recognizing a part of American history that is too often overlooked or forgotten. We’re delighted that many family members and community representatives will join us for this important dedication.”
The Monument is located at the newly opened Peace and Justice Memorial Center, 414 Caroline Street, in Montgomery. The Center is a space where visitors can learn more about America’s history of racial inequality, explore the work of EJI, and engage with artists and thought leaders for a deeper understanding of human rights.
EJI’s 30th Anniversary Celebration will take place at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center on Monday at 7:30 pm. The evening will include performances by five-time Grammy Award winner Lalah Hathaway, three-time Grammy Award winners the Fairfield Four, popular Alabama-based St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and Angélla Christie. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Tickets are not required for the Monument dedication.
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration, opened to widespread acclaim on April 26, 2018, in Montgomery, Alabama. Over 400,000 people have visited the sites since they opened.