Lynching Victim Remembered With Historical Marker On Lawrenceville Square

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Charles Hale, an African American resident of Gwinnett County who was lynched in 1911, had a historical marker dedicated last month to honor his memory, according to a news release.

The historical marker will be located on the west side of Lawrenceville square, where Hale was lynched, according to the release. The Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony took place virtually on Saturday, January 15. The program included 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, according to the release.

“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, in the release. “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.”

“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 in the release. “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.”

Groups involved in the dedication include the Gwinnett Remembrance Coalition, in partnership with the City of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, the Gwinnett Historical Restoration & Preservation Board, and the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) of Montgomery, Alabama.

“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.”

The service also included the announcement by an EJI representative of the winners of a racial justice essay contest for students in Gwinnett County public high schools.

“History, both good and bad, has a way of shaping who we are as a community,” said District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque in the release. “And from this moment forward, future generations will know that Gwinnettians came together to memorialize a victim of a dark injustice in our county’s history. Mr. Hale’s marker is not only a symbol of reflection, but also helps ensure his story remains at the heart of our community.”