About the Memph i s Lynch i ng S i te s Pro j ect “The Lynching Sites Project is part of a growing network of people who want the whole and accurate truth to be told about the history of Shelby County. We believe that we can heal and grow in understanding when we face openly the history of racial violence in our community.” “In this work, we join with the national effort of Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI.org) to memorialize over 4,000 known lynching’s in our country between 1877 and 1950.” The Vision Statement of the Memphis Project is “Opening our hearts and our communities to racial healing by shining the light of truth on lynching’s in Shelby County, Tennessee.” The Mission of the organization is to “...partner with a growing network of organizations and congregations of faith in order to acknowledge our shared history of racial violence, our ongoing resolve for racial justice, and racial healing.” The goals of the Memphis Lynching Sites Project include: To remain grounded in silence, prayer, humility, and listening; To build relationships of trust and new understanding among all who choose to be a part of this work; To partner with others in Shelby County who are also working for racial healing and truth; To identify the names of victims of lynching’s in Shelby County; To locate the sites of these lynching’s and place a memorial at each one; To make available written records as well as audio and video recordings of descendants of both lynching victims and of those who were involved in or present at these lynching’s; To engage local religious leaders and congregations in this work; To make available to local schools and the public study resources and an interactive website accessible to all; To hold interfaith prayer services; To engage the arts and artists in this work; and To make available groups and classes where the deeper, more difficult conversations about race and racism can take place. The August Lynching Sites Project meeting will be held at First Baptist Church of Memphis, 200 East Parkway North. Beginning in September, meetings will be held at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, 1750 Union Avenue. Meetings begin at 5 PM CST and are held on the second (e.g., August 12th) and fourth (e.g., August 26th) Monday of the month unless otherwise indicated. For info, visit lynchingsitesmem.org, phone or email Executive Director, John Ashworth, (731-277-9352), JOHN@lynchingsitesmem.org or Media Strategist, Jessica Orians, (901-634-8037), JESSICA@lynchingsitesmem.org. 10
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