More than a century after he was dragged from a hospital bed and burned alive by a white mob, Zachariah Walker was finally given a proper burial in Coatesville on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, community leaders announced.
The 114th anniversary of Walker’s killing marked a historic moment for Chester County, as residents, faith leaders, and activists gathered for his long-overdue funeral and a community forum on overcoming hatred and violence.
Walker, a Black steelworker, was accused in 1911 of killing Edgar Rice, a white steel company security guard and former borough policeman. Instead of receiving a trial, Walker was taken from the Coatesville Hospital by a mob of thousands, chained to his bed frame, and burned to death. He was thrown back into the fire three times as spectators — some leaving church services to attend — looked on. No one was ever convicted…