The Maryland Lynching Memorial Project, Inc. (MLMP), founded in 2018, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to advance the cause of racial reconciliation in our state by documenting the history of racial terror lynchings, advocating for public acknowledgement of these murders and working to honor and dignify the lives of the victims.
The legacy of racism endures in America's psyche and our society. MLMP believes the injuries racism continues to inflict cannot be healed until it is confronted: there must be truth before there can be reconciliation. Racial terror lynchings have been documented in 17 of Maryland’s 24 counties, of which MLMP works with coalition affiliates in 13. MLMP supports community remembrance projects for the coalitions; provides fiscal sponsorship for those coalitions desiring it; and supports local, state and national audiences through a range of programming.
The Baltimore County Lynching Memorial Project, was established in January 2020. The Baltimore County LMP works together to honor victims of racial terror lynching in Baltimore County and confront the legacy of racial injustice experienced by the Black community. There are 38 identified victims of racial terror lynching in Maryland between the years 1854 and 1933, including in Baltimore County where on July 13, 1885, 15-year-old Howard Cooper was hanged by a mob outside the old Towson jailhouse at Bosley Avenue and Towsontown Blvd. On May 8, 2021, the Baltimore County Coalition successfully led a community project to erect an historical marker at the site of Howard's murder.
The work continues.
In addition to the installation of historic markers for lynching victims in Baltimore County, our goals include working to:
Expose the history and continuing menace of systemic racism in Baltimore County
Lift up the voices of black people, creating a space where all can speak to their own experiences
Create a shared community vision for advancing racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in Baltimore County
Work towards advancing our vision for social justice
In addition to the Racial Justice Poetry Contest, the Baltimore County LMP has other important projects underway. All are welcome, please contact us if you would like to learn more or to get involved.