Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission to Hold Hearing on October 5, 2024
The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC) will hold a public hearing in Montgomery County, as part of its ongoing effort to bring awareness to Maryland's history of racial violence and to foster reconciliation in the present. Research reveals that at least three Black people were lynched in Montgomery County and 38 were lynched across Maryland.
The hearing will focus on the history of lynching in Montgomery County, including the killings of John Diggs-Dorsey in 1880, George Peck in 1880, and Sidney Randolph in 1896. Descendants of the victims and aggressors, expert witnesses, community members, scholars, and archivists will have the opportunity to provide testimony and make recommendations for achieving racial healing. The Rev. Alexa Fraser will testify on behalf of MoCoLMP as to our role in remembering those who died, and creating a platform for reconciliation.
Established in 2019 through House Bill 307, the MLTRC is the first statewide commission of its kind in the nation. MLTRC defines lynching as the unlawful killing of an African American by white mob violence, often with the apparent complicity of state and local officials, intended to incite racial terror and subservience to white supremacy. The commission researches cases of lynching throughout the state and holds public hearings in communities where lynchings took place to shine a light on the dark legacy of lynching in Maryland and its enduring impacts on the Black community and communities of color. At the heart of the MLTRC's mission is the pursuit of justice and healing for the victims of lynching and their descendants.
HEARING DETAILS
When: Saturday, October 5, 2024
Time (in person and streaming): 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: The Universities at Shady Grove, Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (BSE) Education Facility, 9630 Gudelsky Dr, Rockville, MD 20850
How to Attend:
In-person: Preregistration is required to help manage attendance.
Livestream: A link to stream the hearing will be posted on MLTRC’s website one day before the hearing.
SUBMIT TESTIMONY
Members of the public are encouraged to submit written testimony about how the lynching of the victim (or other unidentified Montgomery County victims) has impacted their lives and their communities or make recommendations to address the legacy of lynching in Maryland and promote racial healing. Written testimony can be submitted to mltrc@maryland.gov or collected at the public hearing.
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