CLAYTON COUNTY: Groups ask for jury probe in relocation of graves

Civil rights groups are calling for a grand jury to investigate the Clayton County Commission’s vote to allow 311 historic African-American graves to be relocated.

Descendants of those buried, along with the Georgia NAACP and representatives from the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, called the commission’s decision racist and demanded an investigation.

On Tuesday, descendants told the County Commission they already have sent a letter to District Attorney Tracy Graham-Lawson, requesting the grand jury probe. Graham-Lawson, who took office last week, said she has not received the letter nor heard from anyone about such an investigation.

The commission did not publicly respond to the investigation request Tuesday night.

The commission voted Dec. 2 to allow a College Park company to dig up 311 graves, including some possible slaves, and rebury them in a Riverdale cemetery.

The Union Bethel AME Church Cemetery, which dates to the 1800s, sits in the shadows of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s fifth runway, lying between Stephens MDS’ landfill and a quarry. The cemetery is inaccessible and had not been visited for years before news of the possible move was announced, Stephens MDS officials said.