Photos: DeKalb acknowledges lynchings in county history

News

Photos: DeKalb acknowledges lynchings in county history

DeKalb is believed to be just the second government entity in Georgia to acknowledge the lynchings that occurred within its borders.

June 24, 2019 Lithonia - A stone marker sits out front of the Lithonia Historical African American Cemetery. Only a handful of names are on the marker, however there are dozens of graves at this site, most with unknown stone hedges and signs. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

June 24, 2019 Lithonia - Jhavaun Green, owner of Green Love Kitchen, points to a grave sign that reads, âUnknown.â This is just one of many grave sites at the Lithonia Historical African American Cemetery. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

June 24, 2019 Lithonia - A grave sign reads, "Unknown." This is just one of many grave sites at the Lithonia Historical African American Cemetery. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

June 24, 2019 Lithonia -Jhavaun Green (right), owner of Green Love Kitchen, and Charles Anderson (left), a community development volunteer with the city of Lithonia, walk through dozens of graves in the Lithonia Historical African American Cemetery. Most of the grave sites can be identified, however there are quite a lot that have the word âUnknownâ on them. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

April 3, 2019 Atlanta - Dee Smith, a member of the NAACP, lays out a huge printout of a 1887 news article written in The Atlanta Constitution, describing the murder of a black man at the hands of a mob. Smith is is leading an effort to make DeKalb County the first in Metro Atlanta to officially partner with the Equal Justice Initiative in recognizing the lynchings that took place in the county. The NAACP is organizing events in September that are book-ended by the unveiling of two lynching markers, an EJI lynching monument is also in the works. TIA MITCHELL / TIA.MITCHELL@AJC.COM

June 18, 2019 Atlanta - Delores Turner is niece of Porter Tunrer, taxi driver who was lynched by the KKK in 1945. DeKalb County is the first in Metro Atlanta to officially partner with the Equal Justice Initiative in recognizing Porter Tunrerâs lynching, as well as other lynchings that took place in the county. The NAACP is leading an effort to organize a week of events in September that are book-ended by the unveiling of two lynching markers, an EJI lynching monument is also in the works. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

Calvin Tuner, the nephew of Porter Tunrer, taxi driver who was lynched by the KKK in 1945. The news of his uncles lynching was made known after Porterâs name was etched in stone at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. DeKalb County is the first in Metro Atlanta to officially partner with the Equal Justice Initiative in recognizing Porter Tunrerâs lynching, as well as other lynchings that took place in the county. The NAACP is leading an effort to organize events in September that are book-ended by the unveiling of two lynching markers, an EJI lynching monument is also in the works. HANDOUT

April 12, 2019 Montgomery, AL - Stone markers hang high at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. The markers recognize recorded lynchings that took place in the south. Serving as an inspiration, the NAACP is organizing a events in September that are book-ended by the unveiling of two lynching markers, an Equal Justice Initiative lynching monument is also in the works. TIA MITCHELL / TIA.MITCHELL@AJC.COM

April 12, 2019 Montgomery, AL - A stone marker at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama recognizes several recorded lynchings that took place in DeKalb County. Serving as an inspiration, the NAACP is organizing a events in September that are book-ended by the unveiling of two lynching markers, an Equal Justice Initiative lynching monument is also in the works. TIA MITCHELL / TIA.MITCHELL@AJC.COM

April 12, 2019 Montgomery, AL - A stone marker hangs high at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. The marker recognizes several recorded lynchings that took place in DeKalb County. Serving as an inspiration, the NAACP is organizing a events in September that are book-ended by the unveiling of two lynching markers, an Equal Justice Initiative lynching monument is also in the works. TIA MITCHELL / TIA.MITCHELL@AJC.COM

April 12, 2019 Montgomery, AL - Stone markers hang high at The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. The markers recognize recorded lynchings that took place in the south. Serving as an inspiration, the NAACP is organizing a events in September that are book-ended by the unveiling of two lynching markers, an Equal Justice Initiative lynching monument is also in the works. TIA MITCHELL / TIA.MITCHELL@AJC.COM

1/11

June 24, 2019 Lithonia - A stone marker sits out front of the Lithonia Historical African American Cemetery. Only a handful of names are on the marker, however there are dozens of graves at this site, most with unknown stone hedges and signs. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

Today's Gallery Headlines

Jimmy Carter ‘forever’ stamp

PHOTOS: 2025 AJC Photos of the Year

Coca-Cola first ad

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

Alonzo Herndon

PHOTOS: Philanthropists leave mark on Atlanta

gainesville, thomas county central

PHOTOS: Thomas County Central pummels Gainesville for 5A state title

More Galleries

Georgia state Capitol Christmas tree

PHOTOS: Capitol lights up for Christmas holidays

World Cup draw party TKTKT

PHOTOS: Fans attend 2026 World Cup draw party in Atlanta

Randy Beck

'No body' homicide cases in Georgia

aajc 110625 anx cobb so equine

PHOTOS: Cobb County Sheriff's Office Equine Therapy Program