A Remembrance Project lynching marker from William A. Kelly Park in Lithonia dedicated to the memory of mob lynching victims was reported stolen on Tuesday, February 27. Spearheaded by the NAACP DeKalb Remembrance Project Chair, Attorney D.E Smith, the marker was a collaborative effort composed of organizations in the community that wanted to honor victims of racial terrorism. The memorial was unveiled in 2021 and was a reminder of the abhorrent treatment African Americans suffered in Georgia and around America before and during the Civil Rights Movement.
As of now, no leads have been determined, but the Lithonia Police Department is investigating the theft and searching for potential suspects. The defacing of the symbolic marker during Black History Month is a stark reminder that although progress has been made concerning discriminatory actions and crimes directed at black communities, there is still a lot to be done. Remembrance Project Chairperson, D. E. Smith, said, “This is unbelievable and shocking especially during Black History Month,” Smith said. “We worked so hard to get this plaque and it just hurts my heart to see it taken. It is like these lynching victims have been violated twice.”
For more information about the history of the historic marker and how to get involved with the NAACP Branch of DeKalb County visit https://naacpdekalb.org/about-
