For three centuries lynching was a standard practice in the cruel treatment of Black men, women, and children in America. Even after slavery, Blacks from 1882 – 1959 were lynched on average every six days, totaling at least 4,733 brutal deaths, according to researchers at the Tuskegee Institute.
While large gatherings still are not recommended from a public health perspective, Murthy advised that if individuals find themselves in such a situation, they should follow established safety measures to avoid a COVID-19 infection: wearing a mask, frequent hand hygiene and maintaining physical distance from others.
“We need to make sure we convey the message that the only crime committed on that day was not from the young man, the black children that were there, but from the two deputies and the way they manhandled those kids,” said local NAACP President Marsha Ellison.