Black Man Lynched In Gwinnett County To Receive Historical Marker

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — More than a century after the lynching of Charles Hale, a Black man from Gwinnett County, the community and local leaders will honor his memory with a historical marker this Saturday near the very site his life was taken.

“Mr. Hale’s marker will serve a symbol of remembrance and acknowledgment of tragic events in our history but also represents our community joining together in hope and faith to educate current and future generations,” said Mayor David Still. “The city of Lawrenceville is honored to work with Gwinnett County and engaged community organizations seeking to preserve and ensure the constitutional rights of every person who lives, works, or visits our city. All must be respected and protected.”

According to a 111-year-old article by The News Herald newspaper, prior to Hale's death on April 8, 1911, he'd been accused of assaulting a white woman. However, he never got a chance to have a fair trial.

Instead, at least 200 masked men ultimately stormed the Lawrenceville jail and dragged him onto the town square, the newspaper reported. The crowd then hoisted him up to a pole, tied a rope around his neck and also shot him. A photo uploaded to the Georgia Archives captured the disturbing aftermath.

"Mr. Hale’s life was callously taken during a time when the weight of injustice and racism bore a heavy burden on people of color — specifically black residents,” said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson. “It is an honor to partner with the city of Lawrenceville and these essential community organizations to commemorate Mr. Hale’s life, while celebrating just how far we’ve come as a county.”

Hale, who was in his mid-30s, left behind a wife and a small daughter, the AJC reported.

According to a news release, his historical marker dedication ceremony will take place virtually on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. The program will include a short memorial service, a dedication ceremony and statements from Hale’s family and local elected officials from Gwinnett County and the city of Lawrenceville. The service will also include the announcement by an Equal Justice Initiative representative of the winners of a racial justice essay contest for students in Gwinnett County public high schools.

Residents and community members interested in participating virtually should register via Eventbrite to receive a livestream link for the event. Register by clicking here or at https://gwinnettrc.eventbrite.com.

This ceremony follows a June 2021 event in which soil was collected near the spot where Hale was lynched. Jars containing this soil will be displayed in Gwinnett County and at EJI’s Legacy Museum in Montgomery.

The historical marker will be located on the west side of Lawrenceville square. Community members and others are invited to visit the memorial at their convenience after it is installed to learn about the history of lynchings and racial terror in Gwinnett County.

The Gwinnett Remembrance Coalition helped pave the way for Hale's upcoming historical marker dedication in partnership with the city of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett Historical Restoration & Preservation Board, and the Equal Justice Initiative of Montgomery, Alabama.

Organizers said acknowledging wrongdoings from the past helps to ensure that they aren't repeated.

“Confronting our history is painful, but doing so is essential if we are to learn from the past and move beyond it,” said Ray Harvin, chair of the Gwinnett Remembrance Coalition. “Our silence about this history allows the legacy of racist violence and injustice to continue to poison our community in ways that harm us all. Only by coming together to acknowledge past wrongs can we ensure that these wrongs are not repeated.”