CULPEPER, Va. — A judge has officially exonerated three Black men who were lynched by mobs in Virginia during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The individuals involved in this historic ruling include Charles Allie Thompson, William Thompson, and William Grayson, all of whom met tragic ends in rural Culpeper County, located approximately 75 miles from the nation’s capital.
On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Dale B. Durrer asserted that the men “were and remain to this day innocent of their charges,” emphasizing that they lacked due process during their respective cases.
This declaration was made in response to a request from prosecutor Russell L. Rabb III, highlighting the significant steps being taken toward acknowledging historical injustices.
The ruling mandates that records related to their cases will remain unsealed in court documents, ensuring that future generations can access and learn from them.
“The best history helps us recognize the mistakes that we’ve made and the evil corners in which humanity can dwell,” Judge Durrer stated.
He noted that confronting such discomfort can lead to communal learning and growth, ultimately empowering the community as a whole.
Zann Nelson, 76, played an instrumental role in bringing these cases to light. Over nearly two decades, she dedicated herself to researching the injustices faced by these men, persistently engaging local officials to seek recognition and clarity.
“Some might question the significance of events from so long ago,” Nelson remarked. “However, it brings closure—not only to the families involved but also to the community.”
Charles Allie Thompson was lynched in 1918 following a false accusation of rape by a white woman. He endured five days in jail before a mob abducted him and executed him.
Meanwhile, in 1877, William Thompson faced accusations of raping an 11-year-old white girl. Merely three days following his arrest, a group of 50 men forcibly removed him from jail and hanged him, leaving unclear whether he had any familial ties to Charles Allie Thompson.
William Grayson, who was a free Black man, was wrongfully accused of killing a white man in 1849. His case went through two trials, both of which were overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court as he had been proven to be elsewhere at the time of the crime. While awaiting a third trial in jail, Grayson was seized by a mob that overpowered the sheriff and subsequently lynched him.
