In 2019, the Maryland General Assembly enacted, and Governor Larry Hogan signed into law, legislation establishing the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC) as the first Commission dedicated to investigating racial terror lynchings in the United States.

Sponsored by Delegate Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk, House Bill 307 tasks the Commission with researching cases of lynching, holding public hearings in communities where racial terror lynchings took place and developing recommendations for addressing the legacy of lynching that are rooted in restorative justice.  

The MLTRC's hearing process will allow members of the public, including the descendants of victims, witnesses, and perpetrators, the opportunity to offer testimony about how these murders have impacted their lives and their communities in addition to allowing them the opportunity to make recommendations for achieving racial healing.

The hearings will also provide an opportunity to identify and bring to light possible cases of racial terror lynching that are remembered in families and communities but for which there is little or no documentation.  

On Saturday, November 5 the hearing will be in Princess Anne and focus on the tragic lynchings of Isaac Kemp (death,1894); William Andrews (death,1897); James Reed (death,1907); and George Armwood (death,1933).

Participants may include descendants of the lynching victims, expert witnesses, community members, archivists, and scholars of the community.  

“Through these hearings, we not only are able to gain proximity to the truth but also to promote greater understanding as to how later generations were shaped by these atrocities in interpreting history and their own place in contemporary American society'', said Dr. Charles Chavis, Commission Vice-Chair and Director of African and African American Studies at George Mason University.

Although initial plans were slowed by the pandemic, to date, public hearings have been held in Allegany, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel Counties. 

Throughout 2023, MLTRC plans to continue holding public hearings in each county with documented cases of racial terror lynching.

HEARING DETAILS

When:  Saturday, November 5, 2022  

Time (in person and streaming): 9 am to 1 pm; with a 10-minute break

Where:  University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Ella Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, 11868 College Backbone Rd, Princess Anne, MD 21853

How You Can Attend:

IN PERSON: Pre-registration is required to help us manage attendance.  At this time there are no mask requirements but you will be asked to adhere to any other safety protocols that are required.   

STREAMING:  A link to stream the hearing will be posted on MLTRC’s website one day before the hearing or follow this link to Live Streaming of the Hearing on the Commission's YouTube Page to see past hearings.

How You Can Share Your Story:

Members of the public are encouraged to submit written testimony concerning how the lynching of the victims (or other unidentified County victims) has impacted their lives and their communities or making recommendations to address the legacy of lynching in Maryland and promote racial healing. Submit your testimony to mltrc@maryland.gov or bring your written testimony if you attend in-person and it will be collected.