Downtown Salisbury Lynching Memorial Marker

Located on 101 N. Division Street is a marker dedicated to the three African Americans lynched in Salisbury between 1898 and 1931. Two of these people are named: 18 year old Garfield King in 1898 and 23 year old Matthew Williams in 1931. The third victim was an unidentified Black man who’s body was found on the outskirts of Salisbury and believed to be a victim of part of the mob that had lynched Matthew Williams in 1931.  They remain unidentified to this day. This marker was the first to acknowledge victims of racially motivated lynchings on the Eastern Shore. If you would like to read the stories of how these Black men were lynched you may click the links. It is a sensitive topic and these are graphic accounts, but none-the-less need to be told so that these and similar acts can be fully acknowledged and to be able to come to terms with them.

Garfield King (c.1880 – May 25, 1898): https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013747/html/13747bio.html

Matthew Williams (February 8, 1908 – December 4, 1931) and the identified Black victim: https://libraryguides.salisbury.edu/c.php?g=1056210&p=7673531

Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Salisbury University October 22, 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oBpbA4EeyE&t=2772s&ab_channel=MDLynchingTruthandReconciliationCommission