Students remember victims at lynching memorial site

Austin Callaway’s life was cut short as a young adult by the heinous act of lynching in 1940 Troup County. Eighty-five years later, his legacy and that of other local victims are kept alive with a marker placed outside Warren Temple United Methodist Church in LaGrange, where a group of students joined Spiritual Life in February to pay their respects and learn about this dark period in history.

Thousands of Black people were the victims of lynching and racial violence in the United States between 1877 and 1950, according to the Equal Justice Initiative website.

During the visit, LC students heard from the Rev. Carl Von Epps, pastor of Warren Temple, who shared how the racially motivated murder of Callaway impacted the local community.

“He mentioned both the pain that was born, as well as the healing and forgiveness that resulted from this unfortunate event,” said freshman Solomon Morgan. “I think it’s important to be knowledgeable about historical events, so that the bad and evil parts of them never get repeated in the future.”

Freshman CJ Kilkelly said he was thankful for having the opportunity to learn about this important part of history.

“This experience gave me a better understanding of how important this was not only to civil rights but to humanity, and how it led to the civil rights movement,” he said.

Non-traditional student Tomeka Laye described the visit as an eyeopening experience.

“Learning about the horrific deaths of Austin Callaway and Henry Gilbert, especially Austin Callaway, deeply impacted me as a student, mother of young African American men, and grandmother of grandsons,” she said. “Standing with my classmates, united in our commitment to making positive changes now and in the future, was rewarding.”