General 2 — Union County Community Remembrance Project

Initiatives + Programs

Historical Markers

Current research has documented a staggering 18 confirmed victims of lynching in Union County – from the Union County Jail Raid in 1871 which was one of the largest Klan jail raids in the southeast through lynchings as late as 1934. We have placed 3 historical markers to lynching victims in downtown Union so that the truth of this traumatic history is accurately represented and acknowledged by the public. We see the historical markers as the first step of recognition in a longer process of beginning to heal and tell the truth of the lives impacted by hate and violence.

We know that the historical markers are just the beginning of our project, but as a symbol of Union’s investment in reckoning with its past in order to create a more equitable future, has an influence far beyond its temporal existence. By beginning with acknowledging the violent history of lynching in Union County in a public marker, we hope to create a space for reflection and dialogue.

Reconstruction Era Lynchings in Union County

The Reconstruction Era Lynchings marker commemorates those who were lynched in Union County during the period of Reconstruction, from 1865-1877. These Black men were lynched for exercising their freedom by preaching, voting, participating on juries, and serving in the militia.

The front of this marker (shown here) honors the lives of Sax Joiner and Rev. Lewis Thompson, as well as those whose names we don’t currently know. The reverse of this marker documents and remembers the Union Jail Raid Massacre.

As an Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) sponsored Community Remembrance Project, we worked closely with the EJI team to develop and install this marker. We are grateful for their partnership and support and are proud that these markers reflect both the UCCRP and EJI missions.

Learn more about these lynchings

Lynching in Union County after 1877

The Lynching in Union after 1877 marker remembers those who were lynched from 1877 through the latest known lynching in 1934. This period is known as the Jim Crow era which was marked by segregation, discrimination, and racial violence.

The front of this marker (shown here) honors the lives of Andrew McKnight, Rufus Salter, Mose Hughes, and Dan Jenkins. The reverse of this marker provides additional context on the history of lynching in America.

As an Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) sponsored Community Remembrance Project, we worked closely with the EJI team to develop and install this marker. We are grateful for their partnership and support and are proud that these markers reflect both the UCCRP and EJI missions.

Union Jail Raid and Massacre

The Union Jail Raid and Massacre marker memorializes the white supremacist attack against 12 Black men at the Union Jail, which was one of the largest Klan-led jail raids in the South during Reconstruction. On January 4, 1871 and February 12, 1871 KKK members raided the jail, illegally removed the men, and mass lynched them in an act of extrajudicial murder that resulted in a massacre.

The marker honors the lives of the 12 Black men who were lynched during this event including Alexander Walker, Charner Gordon, Andy Thompson, Sylvanus Wright, Barrett Edwards, Thomas Byers, Aaron Thompson, Joseph Vanlue, Mac Bobo, Amos McKissick, Ellison Scott, and Bill Fincher.

We worked with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History’s (SCDAH) State Historical Marker Program to write and install this marker. We were able to do so through a generous grant from South Carolina Humanities and we are grateful for their support of this work.

All three of the markers were installed during our JUNETEENTH Remembrance and Celebration Event on June 19, 2021. We chose Juneteenth as our installation date because of the significance of the holiday for the Black community in celebrating resistance and resilience in the face of white supremacy. Additionally, several of the Union County lynching victims were murdered in the month of June during various years so it allowed us to commemorate and remember their deaths as many as 150 years ago.

Explore our Juneteenth page to find out more about the event.

EJI sponsored markers facing towards the historic Union Jail across the street.
Text of EJI sponsored markers on side 1.
View of markers facing towards the LW Long Community Resource Center.
View of markers facing LW Long Community Resource Center.
Reconstruction Era and Lynching in Union County sides of markers.
Reconstruction Era Lynchings in Union County, side 1 of marker 1.
Union County Jail Raid Massacre, side 2 of marker 1.
Lynching in Union County after 1877, side 1 of marker 2.
Lynching in America, side 2 of marker 2.

Where are the historical markers located?

Historic Union County Jail

The State Historical Marker commemorating the Jail Raid and Mass Lynching is located at the historic Union County Jail building - the very site where these events transpired. The Jail building is the location of the 1871 Ku Klux Klan led mass lynchings of 12 Black political and community leaders. These Black men were held in cells on the upper level of this jail before being illegally removed and extrajudicially murdered.

As such, this is a site with a deep history of trauma and both state and vigilante violence. Prior to our marker installation, there was no mention of the Jail Raid and Mass Lynching on the Jail’s current marker, even though it was arguably the most important event to occur at the Jail. It serves as the current home of the Union County Sheriff’s department. Work is underway to relocate the Sheriff’s offices and the UCCRP plans to work with community members to better remember and interpret the building’s past.

L.W. Long Community Resource Center

The L.W. Long Community Resource Center was the site of the Union Community Hospital, which was the first African American hospital in Union and the first hospital in the state founded by a Black doctor, Dr. Lawrence W. Long. It is also directly across the street from the historic Union County Jail, in downtown Union.

The UCCRP was sponsored by the Equal Justice Initiative to erect two markers at this location. These markers honored the lives of those who were lynched during Reconstruction and those who were killed after 1877. We are grateful to EJI’s tangible commitment to this work in Union County and for their attendance at our marker installation and unveiling at JUNETEENTH 2021.