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Ed Johnson Memorial Dedication

After the dedication ceremony, those who were able marched across the Walnut Street Bridge. The front contained most of the speakers from the dedication; however, earlier the crowd was led by the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song which sang up to the midway point of the bridge. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)
After the dedication ceremony, those who were able marched across the Walnut Street Bridge. The front contained most of the speakers from the dedication; however, earlier the crowd was led by the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song which sang up to the midway point of the bridge. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)

Ed Johnson was an African American man who was lynched on the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga in 1906. Despite significant efforts by his lawyers, Noah Parden and Styles Hutchins, to save his life, Johnson was sentenced to death based on allegations that he raped Nevada Taylor, a white woman. Many reports and witnesses claimed his innocence, and the United States Supreme Court issued a stay of execution. However, soon after the sentencing, a white mob broke into the prison, abducted Johnson and took him to the Walnut Street bridge, where they hung and shot him.

The crowd applauds at the speakers’ remarks. Mayor of Chattanooga Tim Kelly (second from left) also spoke and gave a formal apology to Ed Johnson on behalf of the city of Chattanooga. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)
Onlookers listen as Eddie Glaude, Jr. presents his keynote address. Glaude is professor and department chair of African American Studies at Princeton University. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)
Jerome Meadows, artist of the Ed Johnson memorial statue, shakes hands with the very statue he created. There were two other statues unveiled that honored the efforts of Noah Parden and Styles Hutchins, Johnson’s attorneys. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)
Speaker Donivan Brown opens the Ed Johnson Memorial Dedication. It was the fourth and final day of events leading up to the unveiling of the Ed Johnson statues. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)
Members of the crowd stand up and cheer at the end of each speaker’s turn. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)
Jerome Meadows and three students of Howard High School pose with the statue of Ed Johnson. All four of them helped unveil the statues for the crowd. Sunday, September 19, 2021. (Photo by: Xander Ordinola)

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Xander Ordinola

Xander Ordinola

Xander Ordinola is a mass communication major with an emphasis in photography. He has worked with the Accent before as a lead reporter but this year he is taking on the position of photo editor. Xander is the guy who is always with a camera in his hand, recording all school events as a photojournalist.
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