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Only Documented Lynching in New Jersey Memorialized, Mayor Apologizes For Past Wrongs

To lynch a black man in the south by angry white mobs was a common occurrence before the civil rights act of 1964 that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities and women. In the north, the town of Eatontown New Jersey became the only documented case of a lynching in New Jersey.

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Only Documented Lynching in New Jersey Memorialized, Mayor Apologizes For Past Wrongs

Samuel “Mingo Jack” Johnson was a Black man who was lynched in New Jersey, post slavery in the 1880s.

To lynch a Black man in the south by angry white mobs was a common occurrence before the civil rights act of 1964 that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities and women.

In the north, the town of Eatontown New Jersey became the only documented case of a lynching in New Jersey.

Samuel “Mingo Jack” Johnson was taken from the Nicken’s family home by authorities located right off of highway 36 and put into a holding cell.

There, he was grabbed by an angry white mob where he was stomped, beaten, and hung because they believed he had raped a white woman. Subsequent trials discovered that he could have been innocent.

Only Documented Lynching in New Jersey Memorialized, Mayor Apologizes For Past Wrongs

Mayor of Eatontown, NJ speaking at Mingo Jack Memorial

Mayor Gerald Tarantolo described the incident as “a low point in the history of Eatontown” during the ceremony in Wampum Park where a memorial was placed to mark the location of the lynching. Tarantolo publicly apologized to Mingo Jack’s ghost, wife and family.

“No man should ever be denied the civil rights granted to him by God. No man should be denied a fair trial, and no man should be subject to a goon mob”, Tarantolo said.

Author James Stone of The Murder of Mingo Jack

Author James Stone of The Murder of Mingo Jack

The story was little known until James Stone, a local author, wrote a book about the lynching entitled “The Murder of Mingo Jack: New Jersey’s Only Nineteenth Century Lynching”.

The book tells the story of Johnson, a former slave of the prominent Laird family of Colts Neck.

On March 5, 1886, a white woman was raped and beaten as she walked to a neighbor’s house. During the attack, the assailant asked the woman “Do you know Mingo Jack?” That was the only thing the man said to her, which led the woman to identify Johnson as her attacker, Stone said Sunday.

During the night, a mob of 12 to 20 people broke into the Eatontown lockup where Johnson was being held, brutally beat him and then hanged him. But information that was discovered during a later trial, including testimony from the woman herself, led many people to believe that Johnson never committed the crime at all.

Stone said that he wrote the book because he was shocked that something like that had happened in Eatontown and that a lot of people, including himself, had never heard about it before.

Only Documented Lynching in New Jersey Memorialized, Mayor Apologizes For Past Wrongs

Unheard Voices Magazine founder at Mingo Jack memorial

African American Sonny Thornton and long time resident of the area knew all so well about the lynching that his family shared and passed down throughout the generations.

As Unheard Voices founder I also thought that it was strange this incident was never documented from this shameful period of our history.

Eatontown, Neptune, Hightstown and other parts of New Jersey was filled with Klan’s men that made life hell for African Americans during that time period.

I was always on guard when driving through those towns and you still have the same feelings of being unsafe today when passing through some of those towns. There was no justice at all for Black people.

We have come a long way in race relations but still striving for human equality and civil rights for all people.

The memorial is a small plaque attached to a rock near Wampum Pond. Tarantolo said he hopes that its presence will have a positive lasting impact.


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Unheard Voices Magazine LLC is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Keith Covin is a retired computer scientist turned social entrepreneur. He is the Founder and vice President of Unheard Voices Networks and Unheard Voices Magazine.

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Social Justice

Family of Black teen shot in head after ringing doorbell of wrong home sues gunman and HOA

The family of the Ralph Yarl, the Black teenager who was shot in the head after ringing the doorbell of the wrong home in Kansas City, Missouri, last year, has filed a lawsuit against the White man who shot him and the residential homeowners association where the house is located.

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Ralph Yarl shooter charged
Ralph Yarl (Instagram)

The family of Ralph Yarl has filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew Lester, the 85-year-old white man who shot the teen last year on his doorstep, along with Lester’s homeowners association.

Ralph Yarl family sues

The lawsuit, filed by Yarl’s mother Cleo Nagbe in the circuit court of Clay County, Missouri, accuses Lester and the Highland Acres Homes Association, Inc. of “careless and negligent conduct.”

“At all times relevant, Plaintiff (Ralph Yarl) never posed or issued a threat to Defendant, Andrew Lester,” the lawsuit states, adding the Highland Acres Homes Association “was aware of or should have been aware of Defendant, Andrew Lester’s, propensity for violence, access to dangerous weapons and racial animus.”

Yarl’s mother said in a news release that the case is not just about seeking justice for her son. By including the Highland Acres Homes Association, Inc., Nagbe said the lawsuit “underscores the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding our communities.”

“Their knowledge of a potentially dangerous individual in the neighborhood without taking adequate precautions is unacceptable,” Nagbe wrote. “This case is not just about seeking justice for Ralph but about advocating for systemic changes that prioritize the safety and well-being of all children.”

Nagbe said she also hopes the civil suit will create a conversation about the “importance of responsible gun ownership and community safety measures of using words, not weapons.”

Suspect

Lester has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

He was released on $200,000 bond and his trial is set to begin October 7.

Ralph Yarl shooting incident

On April 13, 2023, Ralph Yarl, now 17, went to the wrong home while trying to pick up his younger siblings. After ringing the doorbell, Ralph was shot in the head and arm.

Lester was detained the night of the shooting but released two hours later. After a public outcry, he was arrested and charged nearly a week later.

The 85-year-old claims he was scared to death of the boy’s size. Meanwhile, Yarl is 5ft8in and 140 pounds.

Yarl survived the shooting with serious injuries. Those close to the family said he had a prognosis of a full recovery, but may possibly suffer long-term brain issues.

According to the civil lawsuit, the teenager “suffered and sustained permanent injuries, endured pain and suffering of a temporary and permanent nature, experienced disability and losses of normal life activities, was obligated to spend large sums of money for medical and attention and suffered other losses and damages.”


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Crime & Justice

Paramedic involved in Elijah McClain’s death sentenced to probation, work release and community service

Jeremy Cooper, a former paramedic who injected Elijah McClain with a fatal dose of ketamine, has been sentenced to probation and community service.

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Elijah McClain's family to receive $15 million from the city of Aurora
Elijah McClain and Jeremy Cooper (CBS News)

Jeremy Cooper, a former paramedic who injected Elijah McClain with a fatal dose of ketamine, has been sentenced to probation and community service.

Paramedic Jeremy Cooper sentenced

He had faced up to three years in prison but was sentenced to four years probation, 14 months of work release and 100 hours of community service.

Cooper and another paramedic, Peter Cichuniec, were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in December in the death of McClain, 23, who was subdued by police and injected with ketamine on August 24, 2019.

Both paramedics had pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. Cichuniec was sentenced in March to five years in prison, the minimum.

Police stop turns fatal

McClain was walking home in August 2019 when the 23-year-old Black man was confronted by police officers who forcibly restrained him. When Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec arrived, they injected him with ketamine.

He went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance a few minutes later and died three days after that.

The McClain family sued the city of Aurora for Elijah’s wrongful death and received a $15 million settlement.


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Social Justice

Former high school athletic director arrested and charged with using AI to frame principal

A former athletic director of a high school was arrested by Baltimore County Police after allegedly using new technology to impersonate a principal.

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Maryland principal framed Pikesville High School investigation

A former athletic director of a high school was arrested by police in Maryland after allegedly using new technology to impersonate a principal.

Maryland principal incident

In January of this year, we reported that an audio was circulating on social media accusing Pikesville High School principal Eric Eisworth of making racist and antisemitic comments.

After an investigation, authorities concluded the audio was artificial intelligence.

Suspect arrested

Dazhon Darien, 31, was charged with disrupting school activities, after investigators determined Darien faked Eiswert’s voice and circulated the audio on social media in January, according to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office. Darien’s nickname, DJ, was among the names mentioned in the audio clips he allegedly faked.

Maryland principal accused audio

In the audio, Eisworth allegedly claimed Black students were unable to “test their way out of a paper bag” and made “disparaging comments” about Jewish individuals and two teachers, the charging document said

“The audio clip … had profound repercussions,” police wrote in charging documents. “It not only led to Eiswert’s temporary removal from the school but also triggered a wave of hate-filled messages on social media and numerous calls to the school. The recording also caused significant disruptions for the PHS staff and students.”

Retaliation

Police say Darien made the recording in retaliation after Eisworth initiated an investigation into improper payments he made to a school athletics coach who was also his roommate. Darien is also charged with theft and retaliating against a witness.

Darien was released on $5,000 bond and waived an attorney at an initial court appearance, according to court records.


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Unheard Voices Magazine LLC is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

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