Remembering Mary Turner: A Tribute to a Victim of Racial Violence in Georgia
A historical marker from the site of a 1918 lynching that was repeatedly vandalized in recent years is now on display in Atlanta in an exhibit that opens Monday. The marker commemorates the killing of Mary Turner by a white mob in rural southern Georgia. Mary Turner was eight months pregnant and was brutally murdered after demanding justice for the lynching of her husband, Hayes Turner, and other Black individuals. The Georgia Historical Society marker, damaged by bullet holes and cracks, highlights the violence of mob lynching in Georgia from 1880-1930.
The damaged marker is now part of an exhibit at the National Museum for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. Visitors can see the words of the marker projected on a wall and hear them spoken by Mary Turner's descendants. The exhibit aims to educate people about the history of racial violence and the legacy of those who fought against it. Mary Turner's great-granddaughter, Katrina Thomas, expressed her gratitude for the memorial and the opportunity to share her ancestor's story with a wider audience.
The investigation of the 1918 lynchings by Walter White, a civil rights activist, shed light on the atrocities committed in Georgia and other states. Lynchings were prevalent in Georgia, with over 550 documented cases of racial terror lynchings between Reconstruction and World War II. The Equal Justice Initiative has worked to commemorate these victims and raise awareness about the history of racial violence in the United States.
The exhibit in Atlanta serves as a tribute to Mary Turner and her family, who have long sought justice for the atrocities committed against them. The display of the damaged marker and the voices of Turner's descendants provide a powerful reminder of the ongoing impact of racial violence in American history. Through education and remembrance, the exhibit aims to honor the memory of those who suffered and advocate for a more just and equitable society.