A Tree No Longer Grows in Elaine

Phillips County Courthouse  (Public Domain)

In an act that appears to be horribly in sync with the original incident, a tree honoring victims of the 1919 Elaine massacre was deliberately destroyed.

This willow was not only hacked at its base, but an accompanying tag was also stolen.  This tag memorialized the “hundreds of African Americans” who “died at the hands of white mob violence” there. 

But love cannot be destroyed so easily.  Next month, on the 100^th anniversary of the massacre, people will gather in sacred solidarity at this site.    

Resources

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tree-planted-honor-elaine-massacre-victims-cut-65191878

Copyright August 28, 2019 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved