Confronting the Duluth Lynchings 100 Years Later

In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd on May 25 and the subsequent protests throughout the Twin Cities and the country, Minnesota finds itself in the midst of another historic event. This week, 100 years ago, three young black men were falsely accused of raping a white woman and were lynched within 24 hours of being arrested in Duluth. Their names were Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie; they died at the hands of a white mob of almost 10,000 people.

In recognition of this incredibly horrific moment and the long standing racism that has remained in our state and country, the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) has designated the week of June 8-15 as one of remembrance for the lynchings. With the help of local historians and community leaders, MNHS hopes to explore the context of the lynchings within Minnesota’s racist history and confront how racism continues to impact our communities today.