Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc.
2018 Day of Remembrance
Media Contacts:
Stephan Witherspoon (218) 310-3987
Treasure Jenkins (218) 724-4105
Susan Ault (218) 226-0184
Email: info@claytonjacksonmcghie.org
Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc. announces the 2018 Day of Remembrance to reflect, commemorate and continue to restore peace and faith in the Duluth community as a result of the 1920 lynching. Ninety-eight years have passed since the mob-directed tragedy that took the lives of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie, three young African American men who were falsely accused, taken by force from the old Duluth jail on East Superior Street, and lynched at the intersection where the CJM Memorial now stands.
The Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial was dedicated on October 10, 2003, after a group of dedicated community members led the effort to gain public and financial support to build it in downtown Duluth. Today the memorial stands as the only one of its kind in the United States. The group evolved into today’s nonprofit Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc., which continues the work of fostering racial justice in our community through education, reconciliation, healing. In the past year our organization has sponsored several students in their efforts to acquire drivers’ licenses, an exhibit on Duluth’s Black history and the journey of 35 community members to witness the opening of the National Memorial to Peace and Justice in Montgomery Alabama.
CJMM, Inc. will commemorate the lives of the three men with three gatherings:
Thursday, June 14, at 5:45pm, Bob Powless Cultural Center, AICHO 212 W Second St. for Reflections on the Peace and Justice Memorial: The Alabama 35 Shares Their Experiences. We will listen to the live broadcast of the KUWS documentary on the trip by Robin Washington and Henry Banks and the AL 35 will discuss. Refreshments will be served.
Friday, June 15, at NOON, Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, First St & Second Ave E — Day of Remembrance: Taking Action for our Community’s Future. Gather with us to honor the memory of the three young men who were lynched in 1920. Special guests include Rabbi David Steinberg, our new scholarship recipient, and others.
Friday, June 15, at 5:30pm, Park Hill Cemetery, 2500 Vermilion Rd — Graveside service by Vern Green. Please join us at the gravesites of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie for a gathering that includes an open forum for the community.