Lynching in America / The Lynching of John Jordan

Marker Text: On June 27, 1911, hundreds of white people formed a mob that brutally lynched a 35-year-old Black man named John Jordan in Cleveland. The mob shot and beat Mr. Jordan to death following a prolonged chase after a white farmer accused Mr. Jordan and two Black companions of stealing cherries from an orchard near the present-day intersection of West Boulevard and Clinton Road. In this era, hundreds of Black people were killed in lynchings that began after false allegations or accusations of minor crimes Black people were burdened with a presumption of guilt and dangerousness that left them vulnerable to mob violence. At around 9:30 am, a white farmer confronted Mr. Jordan and his companions at an orchard, knocking one of them to the ground. As they started to leave, the farmer armed himself and began assembling a mob, claiming that Mr. Jordan had threatened him with a gun during the altercation. As many as 500 local white residents, wielding shotguns revolvers, and clubs, chased the Black men a mile or more through the West Side While his companions escaped, the mob cornered Mr. Jordan near Lorain Avenue while yelling “Lynch him” and “Hang him up.” As Mr. Jordan attempted to defend himself, the lynch mob shot him in the abdomen and then beat him repeatedly, Mr. Jordan died minutes later. Authorities made no attempt to arrest those who killed Mr. Jordan, instead, a police lieutenant justified the lynching by claiming “it had to be done.”