John Henry Scott

Community Remembrance to Remember Mr. John Henry Scott (Lynched in 1875) | October 31, 2026 | Fort Washington, MD

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Community Remembrance to honor Mr. John Henry Scott (lynched in 1875)

PGC LMP is excited to announce our Community Remembrance Ceremony for Mr. John Henry Scott, who was lynched in Oxon Hill in 1875. It will be a moving, somber, and celebrative time in community together. Finally– the Homegoing Service he never had! 

You’re Invited!

Community Remembrance Ceremony for Mr. John Henry Scott
Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 1-3 p.m.
Harmony Hall Cultural Center in Fort Washington
Cost: Free

RSVP here

About Mr. John Henry Scott

Mr. John Henry Scott was a Black freedman, son and brother who was tragically lynched by a White mob in Oxon Hill, MD, on March 23, 1875. He was the second of four known racial lynchings in Prince George’s County. No one was ever held accountable for his murder.

What is a Community Remembrance Ceremony?

A Community Remembrance Ceremony is one of the three kinds of Community Remembrance Projects we will hold for each of the four documented racial terror lynching victims in Prince George’s County.

How to get involved

Recap: February 21st Presentation: “The Untold Story of the 1875 Lynching of Mr. John Henry Scott in Oxon Hill”

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Some PGC LMP volunteers, library staff, and elected officials celebrate the successful event.
Front Row (L-R):  Krystina Tucker, Diane Teichert, Mark Docken, Pat Neal, Crystal Carpenter, Congressman Glenn Ivey (District Back Row (L-R):  Sarahita Wyatt-Paige (Democratic Central Committee), Maya Davis, County Council Member (At-Large) Jolene Ivey, JP Williams, Karen Scrivo, Diane Thompkins, Pat McCartney, Katie Pugliese, Sharon Kniss (partially obscured), Melanie Townsend Diggs (South Area Director, PGCMLS) , Bill Gilcher (partially obscured).

On February 21, 2026, dozens of community members gathered in at Oxon Hill Library in Prince George’s County for a powerful and necessary conversation—one that reaches far beyond those who were in the room.

We came together to reflect on the life of John Henry Scott, a 23-year-old laborer who was lynched by a mob in 1875 near what is now one of the most well-known historic areas in the county. His story, preserved through historical records and ongoing research, is one of four documented racial terror lynchings in Prince George’s County—and one of more than 4,400 that took place across the United States between the 1860s and World War II.

This is not distant history. It is American history. And its impact continues to shape our communities today.

We extend deep appreciation to J.P. Williams, Genealogical Researcher and Reparations Advocate, for leading such a compelling and informative presentation. His work brought both depth and clarity to this history, grounding it in research while connecting it to the present in ways that resonated with everyone in attendance.

The presentation was both sobering and illuminating, offering not only historical insight but also a clear call to action. The question-and-answer session that followed created space for thoughtful dialogue, honest reflection, and meaningful engagement across the room.

Even if you were not in the room, this conversation belongs to you.

We invite you to learn more, reflect, and engage. Visit pgclmp.org to explore resources, support the work, and become part of a growing effort to move from truth to justice—and toward reconciliation. Our next general meeting is Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 2pm. For more info please email PGCLMP at princegeorgescolmp@gmail.com.