Remembering Benjamin Thomas: Honoring the children of the past and protecting the children of today

Benjamin Thomas. He was a 16-year-old boy who was lynched in Alexandria VA on Aug 8, 1899. Exactly 125 years later, Laser delivered remarks honoring him and explaining how the racism at the root of his lynching remains today. The title of the speech was: "Why the 'Parental Rights' Movement is Anti-Civil Rights." The remembrance event was all the more moving because it took place at Shiloh Baptist Church, the same Black church where 20 days after Benjamin's lynching, 600 mourners gathered to say goodbye and commit themselves to protesting stores owned by persons who had taken part in the lynching. Since the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project is a city-wide initiative, she appreciated the event sponsors going out of their way to explain in the program that "[t]his is a secular program being held in a worship center due to its historical connection and importance to the story of Benjamin Thomas."