“I am proud to announce that New College of Florida has signed on as a partner with the Boxser Diversity Initiative, Newtown Alive and the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition to bring to the Sarasota African American Art Center and History Museum a permanent replica of the historical marker from the Equal Justice Initiative’s (EJI’s) Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL to commemorate the victims of lynching in this area. The EJI has documented five victims Henry Thomas (d. 3/8/1903), Sam Ellis (3/7/1910), Wade Ellis (3/7/1919), — Ruddy (d. 3/8/1910), William English (d. 7/1/1912). A sixth, James Franklin (d. 4/4/1934), was lynched after Sarasota separated from Manatee County. There were almost certainly others. Community scholars are researching other lynchings and racial terror that took place in this region. Thanks to Uzi Baram, Jessica Young, Queen Meccasia Zabriskie for presenting the motion to the faculty, to Sophia Lombardi for representing the students, and to my direct reports for representing staff.”
Donal O’Shea
President of new college of florida
