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Omahans remember lynching victim at Douglas County Courthouse

A ceremony was held on Friday to remember a black man who was lynched at the hands of a white mob nearly 130 years ago in Omaha.

By: KMTV Staff

Posted at 6:17 PM, Oct 23, 2020

and last updated 2020-10-23 19:42:06-04

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A ceremony was held on Friday to remember a black man who was lynched at the hands of a white mob nearly 130 years ago in Omaha.

Community members honored George Smith, also known as Joe Coe, who was lynched outside the Douglas County Courthouse in 1891.

People at the event placed soil from the courthouse grounds into jars as a way to honor Smith and this important event in local history.

It was done on behalf of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama.