This article was written by Rev. Diane Teichert, PGC LMP liaison to the MLTRC
The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission (MLTRC) held its legislatively-mandated Public Hearing for Prince George’s County on Saturday, January 25th, 2025 at Bowie State University in conjunction with the Prince George’s County Lynching Memorial Project.
PGC LMP requested ”Lift Every Voice and Sing” to open the event and suggested many of the speakers; provided the narratives for the four racial terror lynchings and recruited the college students who read them. PGC LMP also invited community leaders to testify during the public comment period, and publicized the event widely throughout the county. The attendance and energy were high!
The event was comprehensive, educational, and powerfully moving. To experience it for yourself, fast forward to the start of the event at 20 minutes: MLTRC Public Hearing for Prince George’s County
PGC LMP thanks MLTRC leaders, members and staff and the participants (listed here in order of their appearance):
Songleader Alphonse Blakeney-Lewis
Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown
Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk (Maryland District 21)
Artura Jackson, Public Historian
Isabella Carrero-Baptista, reader of “The Lynching Story of Mr. Thomas Juricks”
Naira Wiley, reader of “The Lynching Story of Mr. John Henry Scott”
Isis Bendele-Asante, reader of “The Lynching Story of Mr. Michael Green”
Akua Bendele-Asante, reader of “The Lynching Story of Mr. Stephen Williams”
Crystal Queen, descendant of Mr. Stephen Williams
Blair Bowie, descendant of an enslaving family in PGC
Dora Proctor, speaking for the Chapel Hill Community via video clip
Dr. Lula Beatty, witness on historical trauma
Rev. Tony Love, witness on the importance of Black Churches then and now
Dr. Katina Gomez, Deputy Chief, Prince George’s County Police Department
Crystal Carpenter, PGC LMP Co-chair
And to the many who offered Public Comments in-person and on-line!
In addition, special thanks to “behind the scenes” PGC LMP members Patricia McCartney who recruited the student readers; Rev. Karen Scrivo who wrote the four narratives they read; and Isaac Prentice, Melodye Robinson, Carolyn Rowe, Janet Simpson, and Diane Thompkins, members of the African American History and Genealogy Society-PGC Chapter, who conducted research on which the narratives were based. And to the PGC LMP Public Hearing Team
Note: the MLTRC continues to collect Descendant Testimonies and Public Comments at: https://feedback.msa.maryland.gov/lynching-truth-reconciliation/pages/contact.aspx
The PGC LMP Public Hearing Team: Lula Beatty, Crystal Carpenter, Emily DeMarco, Sharon Kniss, Pat McCartney, Pat Neal, Katie Pugliese, Karen Lee Scrivo, Diane Teichert PGC LMP liaison to the MLTRC, and Krystina Tucker.
Photos MLTRC Public Hearing for Prince George’s County by Don Milton