Lynching in America / Lynching in Anne Arundel County

Marker Text: Between 1875 and 1911, racial terror lynchings of African Americans by white mobs created a legacy of violence, intimidation, and injustice that has not previously been acknowledged. At least five racial terror lynchings took place in Anne Arundel County, traumatizing the black community. These lawless acts of violence targeted African Americans accused of misconduct or crimes, all of whom were killed without a trial — many under false accusation. In 1875, a white mob lynched John Simms at Simms Crossing after seizing him from the county jail, which stood here on Calvert Street. In 1884, George Briscoe was being transported to the jail when a white mob abducted and lynched him by the Magothy River Bridge. In 1898, Wright Smith was taken from the county jail by a white mob intent on lynching him. He attempted to escape but the mob shot him in the back of the head as he fled. Henry Davis was seized from the jail in 1906, dragged by a mob through the nearby Clay Street black community, and hanged by College Creek. He was shot over 100 times. Five years later, a white mob abducted King Johnson from the Brooklyn Station House. The mob beat Mr. Johnson, dragged him through the streets, and shot him to death. Although the perpetrators of this violence were often known to law enforcement, no one was ever convicted of crimes for these acts of racial terror. Memorializing these victims reminds us to remain persistent in the pursuit of justice for all.