Lynching and Mob Violence in Ohio, 1772-1938 - by David Meyers & Elise Meyers Walker (Paperback)

About the Book

"In the late 19th century Ohio was reeling from a wave of lynchings and other acts of racially motivated mob violence. Many of these acts were attributed to well-known and respected men and women. Chronicling hundreds of acts of mob violence in Ohio, this book explores the acts themselves, their motivations and the law's response to them" --

Book Synopsis

In the late 19th century Ohio was reeling from a wave of lynchings and other acts of racially motivated mob violence. Many of these acts were attributed to well-known and respected men and women yet few of them were ever prosecuted--some were even lauded for taking the law into their own hands.

In 1892, Ohio-born Benjamin Harrison was the first U.S. President to call for anti-lynching legislation. Four years later, his home state responded with the Smith Act "for the Suppression of Mob Violence." One of the most severe anti-lynching laws in the country, it was a major step forward, though it did little to address the underlying causes of racial intolerance and distrust of law enforcement. Chronicling hundreds of acts of mob violence in Ohio, this book explores the acts themselves, their motivations and the law's response to them.

About the Author

A life-long resident of Columbus, Ohio, David Meyers is the author of more than a dozen books of nonfiction, as well as several novels and various works for the stage, including two full-length musicals, The Last Christmas Carol and The Last Oz Story. A nine-time nonfiction author, Elise Meyers Walker is a former board member of The Columbus Historical Society and The Ted Lewis Museum. She has appeared on the Discovery ID shows Deadly Women and Tabloid, as well as All Sides with Ann Fisher, and Columbus Neighborhoods.