A lynching that took place 97 years ago in Abilene, Texas, was publicly recognized for the first time Saturday. A college student's curiosity was the first spark that made it happen.
Bria Kimble, a senior sociology major at McMurry University, recently read the book Lynching in America for a class.
鈥淚'm always interested in researching things so I went to Google, typed in 'lynching in Abilene, Texas' and I found Grover Everett,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom there it just kind of spiraled into more questions and trying to figure out what happened."
That search for answers led Kimble on a journey that brought her to the site of his death, a grassy field where a hotel once stood in what used to be called Negrotown. Her research helped bring together community leaders to organize a public ceremony to tell Everett鈥檚 story.
鈥淭丑别 that three masked and robed men entered the Joe Davis Hotel looking for Mr. Everett. Shortly after gunshots were heard from upstairs, the masked and robed men ran out,鈥� Kimble told a crowd of more than 100 people. 鈥淓verett was found lying on the floor face down at his door. He had been shot, point blank, in the chest. Shortly thereafter, he died.鈥�
After a police investigation and witness testimony, an all-white grand jury concluded without an indictment. To this day, no one knows exactly why the masked men killed Everett, aside from his race. At that time, Ku Klux Klan membership was at an all-time high in Texas.
鈥淏y 1922, Abilene鈥檚 Klan 139 was confident in its impunity, boasting of a membership of 600 members,鈥� said Dr. Robert Wallace, Bria Kimble鈥檚 professor. 鈥淏efore it was all said and done, the Klan had spread across the United States, recruiting perhaps five million white Protestants and was fated to become the largest and most powerful nativist and vigilante organization in American history.鈥�
Grover Cleveland Everett鈥檚 death is just one of documented in the American South. like Everett who were executed without cause, without a trial and without justice.
During the ceremony, members of the crowd were asked to come forward and scoop soil from the ground into glass jars.
The soil collected from the site of Everett鈥檚 death will be taken to The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Ala. Abilene鈥檚 jar will be along with others still being collected from the sites of other lynchings.
Pastor Richard Darden of Shining Star Fellowship Church spoke about the deep symbolism embedded in the soil.
鈥淭丑别 Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel, your brother?' He said 'I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?' And He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.'" Darden recited from Genesis 4:9 to the crowd, which included Abilene鈥檚 first African American mayor, Anthony Williams, and other community leaders. Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge was in attendance but not scheduled to speak. After Darden鈥檚 speech, Standridge was inspired to take the stage.
鈥淚 stand here convicted. I鈥檓 just going to be honest with you because I represent the police department that carried out these injustices in 1922. So hear me: I鈥檓 sorry. I鈥檓 sorry,鈥� Standridge said.
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In the crowd to hear the apology were four generations of descendants of Grover C. Everett. After the ceremony, the family expressed their gratitude to Standridge.
鈥淚 really just want to say thank you for what you stood and did,鈥� Aretha Alford, Everett鈥檚 great granddaughter, said to Standridge. 鈥淵ou did not have to offer an apology for all of those that came before, but that went volumes for me. So I truly thank you and appreciate you for that.鈥�
鈥淐an I get a hug?鈥� she asked.
鈥淵es, of course!鈥� Standridge responded as they embraced in a moment of closure.
For the Everett family, the details of his death had long been a mystery. His granddaughter, Margie Davis, said she learned about the lynching just weeks ago because of the research of Kimble and Wallace.
鈥淵ou know you see documentaries of other people, but when it鈥檚 in your household, it can really just kind of stab the heart. It was kind of just overwhelming,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚 just thank everyone for everything that they鈥檝e done and the time to put this together.鈥�
The next step for organizers of the ceremony is to have a historical marker placed at the site so Everett鈥檚 story will be remembered forever.
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