The Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project is made up of dedicated volunteers with a variety of skills and backgrounds, representing a broad swathe of our diverse communities.
Co-Chairs:
Diane Teichert, Krystina Tucker, and Crystal Carpenter
Committees:
The Community Remembrance Projects (formerly Soil Collection) Committee of the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project (PGCLMP) seeks to confront our county’s history of racial violence by collaborating with communities to memorialize documented victims of racial terror lynchings through a variety of community remembrance projects such as soil collection ceremonies. In planning these events we hope to engage the community in meaningful dialog about how the trauma of racial terror and injustice continues to shape our present-day lives. Through our community engagement efforts centered around remembrance projects, we seek to truthfully acknowledge our past, remember and honor the victims of lynching and give voice to those in our community who have been traumatized by our shameful history and continue to be impacted by the legacy of racial injustice. It is our hope that these truth and reconciliation efforts will inspire the community to work with us toward a future that is rooted in justice.
Co-Chairs: Jade Eaton and Katie Pugliese
The Education Committee of the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project (PGCLMP) will develop educational materials, information sessions and community involvement programs to engage the public in conversation and reflection on the enduring legacy of slavery and racial terror lynchings. The Committee will recommend strategies to redress their continuing impact on present day criminal justice, health, and social inequities.
Co-Chairs: Crystal Carpenter and Liz Muller
The Outreach Committee of the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project (PGCLMP) strives to share the work of the larger PGCLMP through social media and website pages maintained primarily by the committee with content and input from the other committees, and through coordination with outside media partners as appropriate. Outreach is also focused on fostering connections with interested individuals and organizations and supporting other committees’ efforts to do so. Its members are available to assist with written communication items including press releases, letters and other needs.
Co-Chairs: Rev. Aaron Tinch and Emily DeMarco
History and Genealogy Committee of the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project (PGCLMP) will document and present the history of racial terror and lynching in Prince Georges County, during the period between, 1869: Thomas Juricks; 1875: John Henry Scott; 1878: Michael Greene; 1889: Joseph Vermillion; and 1894: Stephen Williams. This committee will also research those who participated in these acts of terror. It will:
- Utilize a methodology which encompasses working with the Prince George’s African American Historical and Genealogical Society, the National Archives, Maryland State Archives and other organizations which will assist with historical research, data collection and interpretation of documents, diaries and oral histories to determine those identified individuals who were lynched during the specified period of time.
- Establish a centralized location on the shared drive which is easily accessible to view and utilize historical information obtained through research collected and added by interested parties.
- Pursue genealogy research of both the victims and perpetrators of lynching. This effort offers the potential to discover new information regarding these acts as well as present an opportunity for forgiveness, reconciliation and spiritual release between descendants of both parties.
- Collaborate with the work of the other subcommittees to accomplish their goals.
It is imperative that research conducted does not accept historical data at face value, since many diaries, memoirs, reposts and testimonies are written to enhance the writer’s position, stature, or importance. This possibility requires that historical data has to be examined for authenticity and truthfulness. Such examination is achieved through critical review; by asking and researching to help judge, establish and, when applicable, remedy accuracy, potential bias, omissions and narrative data consistency.
Co-Chairs: Krystina Tucker and Jody Wildy