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Yesterday I tweeted about the Groveland Four being pardoned 70 years after being falsely accused of rape by a White woman & my disgust that she was allowed to speak at the ceremony where they were pardoned, which she opposed.
Here's her statement.
orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-n…
Here's her statement.
orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-n…
She says she's always scared something will happen to her children or grandchildren.
Not sure exactly how that would happen, since the Groveland 4 are all dead now.
And she had more than a little to do with that.
Not sure exactly how that would happen, since the Groveland 4 are all dead now.
And she had more than a little to do with that.
If you look at this picture, there are only 3 young men pictured - Charles Greenlee (just 16) Samuel Shepherd & Walter Irvin.
One of the Groveland 4, Ernest Thomas, managed to escape when they were captured, but was killed by a mob of White men.
theroot.com/almost-70-year…
One of the Groveland 4, Ernest Thomas, managed to escape when they were captured, but was killed by a mob of White men.
theroot.com/almost-70-year…
Later, the sheriff in this picture, Sheriff McCall, would shoot two of the young men, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Irvin, falsely claiming they were trying to escape custody. Shepherd died. Irvin survived & his injuries proved his account true. Of course the sheriff wasn't charged.
Walter Irvin & Samuel Shepherd were both convicted & sentenced to death after two trials. Both had their sentences commuted to life & were eventually released on parole after serving almost 20 years in prison.
Walter Irvin died within a year in suspicious circumstances.
Walter Irvin died within a year in suspicious circumstances.
Only Charles Greenlee went on to live and have a family and some semblance of a normal life, but he died in 2012.
The White woman, Norma Padgett, outlived everyone.
But Charles Greenlee has a son and a daughter, just as she has her son. And Mr. Greenlee's son testified too.
The White woman, Norma Padgett, outlived everyone.
But Charles Greenlee has a son and a daughter, just as she has her son. And Mr. Greenlee's son testified too.
PS. Mr. Irvin and Mr. Shepherd were veterans of WW2 and they continued to wear their uniforms when they returned home, which some people speculate may have been a motive for these lynchings - legal and extra-legal. The whole "uppity Blacks" conceit.
Oh and as @Fly_Sistah points out below, Sheriff McCall was re-elected to office until 1972. Definitely recommend, Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King.
