Our 5th Anniversary

In March, some 65 people gathered to celebrate MoCoLMP’s 5th anniversary with music, food, and inspiring remarks by Will Jawando, Montgomery County Councilmember At-Large. Jawando, a long-time supporter and advocate for MoCoLMP, shared personal reflections and spoke about the importance of the truth and truth-telling. Will Schwarz, founder and director of the Maryland Lynching Project, also offered thoughts about MoCoLMP and its past and present. 

We looked back at all that we had accomplished, notably holding soil collection ceremonies at the sites of the three known lynchings and, along with the Montgomery County Commission on Remembrance and Reconciliation, creating historical markers to acknowledge the victims. Montgomery College’s MC Jazztet got the crowd swaying, and we all enjoyed the food and fellowship.

Steering Committee member Derrick C. Tabor engaged the audience by asking them to answer the question: Where do we go from here? A celebration highlight was the activity where attendees rated the priorities of possible future projects. Participants were enthusiastic about topics such as mapping plantation sites, collecting oral histories from historic Black communities, continuing research on other lynchings, and organizing future tours and events. [Next page.]

MoCoLMP members enjoyed the camaraderie and refreshments as well as musical entertainment by Montgomery College’s MC Jazztet.