City issues apology for past
Council resolution apologizes for historic lynchings of blacks
A resolution approved this week by the Annapolis city council formally apologizes for historic lynchings of African-American men and other racial injustices that took place over the history of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
Alderwomen Elly Tierney and Rhonda Pindell Charles wrote the resolution apologizing on behalf of the city for those that took place in the city.
Five other members of the council, including Mayor Gavin Buckley, signed on as co-sponsors.
The initiative came following this spring’s opening of a memorial to lynchings in America, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, in Montgomery, Ala. Research cites several lynchings that occurred in Anne Arundel, as well as other jurisdictions in Maryland.
The council, during last Monday’s meeting, honored victims of lynching by placing lit candles on the council dais. Both Tierney and Pindell Charles read statements decrying the city’s history of lynchings.
It is the first time since 1898 that the city considered a formal apology for the lynchings.
That 19th-century proposal failed.
Tierney said she is haunted by the gruesome killings even as the city celebrates its more positive history with events such as crew races and croquet matches.
“The purpose of this Resolution is for the City Council to express its support for the Equal Justice Initiative, to move toward a more complete history of race relations and to affirm the City’s commitment to truth, freedom and equity,” Tierney, a Ward 1 Democrat, wrote in an advance copy of her testimony on the resolution.
Pindell Charles, a Democrat from Ward 3, declined to comment.
The Equal Justice Initiative unveiled the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in April. It called on each jurisdiction to accept a copy of the memorial to local lynchings. At the time, Annapolis officials said they would consider accepting the marker noting five in the county. County officials have not commented on the request.
Tierney’s resolution would have the city take a step toward that.
“Whereas the City Council supports the sentiment of the Equal Justice Initiative, that a history of racial injustice must be acknowledged and mass atrocities and abuse must be recognized and remembered before a society can recover from mass violence,” she wrote.
There have been steps to acknowledge racial injustices in Annapolis in recent years.
Responding to calls from the public and House Speaker Mike Busch, Gov. Larry Hogan removed a statue of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney from the State House grounds. Taney was the author of the
Alderwomen Elly Tierney and Rhonda Pindell Charles wrote the resolution apologizing on behalf of the city for those that took place in the city.
Five other members of the council, including Mayor Gavin Buckley, signed on as co-sponsors.
The initiative came following this spring’s opening of a memorial to lynchings in America, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, in Montgomery, Ala. Research cites several lynchings that occurred in Anne Arundel, as well as other jurisdictions in Maryland.
The council, during last Monday’s meeting, honored victims of lynching by placing lit candles on the council dais. Both Tierney and Pindell Charles read statements decrying the city’s history of lynchings.
It is the first time since 1898 that the city considered a formal apology for the lynchings.
That 19th-century proposal failed.
Tierney said she is haunted by the gruesome killings even as the city celebrates its more positive history with events such as crew races and croquet matches.
“The purpose of this Resolution is for the City Council to express its support for the Equal Justice Initiative, to move toward a more complete history of race relations and to affirm the City’s commitment to truth, freedom and equity,” Tierney, a Ward 1 Democrat, wrote in an advance copy of her testimony on the resolution.
Pindell Charles, a Democrat from Ward 3, declined to comment.
The Equal Justice Initiative unveiled the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in April. It called on each jurisdiction to accept a copy of the memorial to local lynchings. At the time, Annapolis officials said they would consider accepting the marker noting five in the county. County officials have not commented on the request.
Tierney’s resolution would have the city take a step toward that.
“Whereas the City Council supports the sentiment of the Equal Justice Initiative, that a history of racial injustice must be acknowledged and mass atrocities and abuse must be recognized and remembered before a society can recover from mass violence,” she wrote.
There have been steps to acknowledge racial injustices in Annapolis in recent years.
Responding to calls from the public and House Speaker Mike Busch, Gov. Larry Hogan removed a statue of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney from the State House grounds. Taney was the author of the
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