1899 Lynching Of Black Teen To Be Remembered In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As Alexandria grapples with instances of racism in its history, it will recognize the anniversary of one of its two documented lynchings.

The City of Alexandria will invite the community to join a remembrance ceremony for the 1899 lynching of Benjamin Thomas, a 16-year-old African American boy. According to city records, a lynch mob hunted down Thomas, tortured and killed him on Aug. 8, 1899. While the mob went after Thomas for the alleged assault of a white girl, the city government notes the allegation was never proven.

Thomas was arrested on Aug. 7, 1899 for the alleged assault. Before Thomas was lynched, Black leaders warned leaders there could be another lynching like the lynching of Joseph McCoy in April 1897. When leaders did not address their concerns, numerous Black residents stood guard where Thomas was being held to protect him. However, the Black residents were arrested, tried, fined and were chained together as part of a chain gang.

According to city research, Thomas "was kidnapped, tortured, shot, beaten and hanged from the lamp post" at Fairfax and King Streets.

The lynchings of Thomas and McCoy are Alexandria's two documented lynchings and among over 100 in Virginia. The lynchings are recognized by the city through the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project, an initiative seeking to shed a light on the city's history of racial terror.

The project is also working to receive a steel pillar from the Equal Justice Initiative Remembrance Project memorializing Alexandria's two lynching victims and will create a permanent remembrance space.

On Monday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m., the city will hold a remembrance program at Market Square, 301 King St. The program will offer reflection on the lynching of Thomas and terrorizing of Alexandria's African American community that followed. There will also be a tribute to the Black residents who attempted to protect Thomas from the lynch mob.

Attendees can also view a temporary art piece by Nicole Wandera in recognition of the residents who tried to protect Thomas.

A remembrance marker has been placed at Fairfax and King Streets to mark the location where Thomas was lynched. From Aug. 5 through Aug. 8, City Hall, the George Washington National Masonic Memorial and the lamp post at Fairfax and King Streets will be illuminated in purple at night in memory of Thomas and the residents who tried to protect him.