100 Years Later, A Lynched Black Indiana Man’s Death Is Finally Recognized As Murder
On March 16, 1922, George Tompkins, 19, was found hanging from a sapling with his hands tied behind his back in an Indianapolis park. The death was ruled a suicide by authorities and that was written on his death certificate.
Now, one century later, the Marion County Deputy Chief Coroner Alfie McGinty has issued a new death certificate that lists Tompkins's death as murder. At a memorial for Tompkins on Saturday (March 12), McGinty unveiled a new certificate that read Tomkins’ cause of death was a homicide.
“I was very surprised that this had happened back in 1922 – that the circumstances of this death were not properly examined,” McGinty said during the event, according to local station WISH. “But, I’m not entirely surprised, given the times in which this occurred.”
The Indiana Remembrance Coalition, an organization that addresses the history of lynching in the state, is leading an effort to honor Tompkins’ memory and to seek justice for how the young man died.
According to Dr. Rebecca Shrum, associate professor of history and director of public history programs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, the county coroner said at the time, "the man could not have hanged himself." But when Tompkins' death certificate was finalized, the cause of death was listed as suicide, not homicide.
"It might look a little differently but things like this happen today. And so if we don't understand what our history is about, we will repeat and we are repeating it,” Karen Christensen of the Indiana Remembrance Coalition told local station WTHR, “And therefore, we want to talk about this so we can stop the racial violence."
Christensen, who was behind helping give Tompkins justice all these years later, said by finally acknowledging what happened to Tompkins, they're hopeful they can help the community move forward on a larger path to justice, together.
After more than 100 years of attempts, only this month has the U.S. Senate approved an anti-lynching bill that would make it a federal hate crime. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law.
