New memorial unveiled honoring 1919 Elaine massacre victims

wireready_10-01-2019-05-12-03_00012_aplogo3

ELAINE, Ark. (AP)   A new memorial has been erected honoring the victims of the 1919 Elaine massacre in eastern Arkansas.

Monday marks 100 years since more than 200 African American men, women and children were killed by a white mob in 1919. It has been called the deadliest racial conflict in the state’s history.

Civic leaders and community members gathered Sunday to unveil the controversial Elaine Massacre Memorial in Helena-West Helena.

Critics of the memorial took issue with it not being placed in Elaine, a declining farming community about 25 miles south of Helena-West Helena. The Elaine Legacy Center instead opted to host a separate commemorative event at the same time.

Legacy center president Rev. Mary Olson says that she believes the memorial should be in Elaine, where the people died.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI