CULPEPER, Va. (AP) — Three Black men who were lynched by mobs in Virginia during the 1800s and early 1900s have been declared innocent by a judge.
The Washington Post reported Friday that the men were Charles Allie Thompson, William Thompson and William Grayson. Each was killed in rural Culpeper County, which is about 75 miles (121 kilometers) from Washington.
Circuit Court Judge Dale B. Durrer on Monday found that the men “were and remain to this day innocent of their charges” because they were denied due process. Durrer did so at the request of prosecutor Russell L. Rabb III.
The ruling requires that documents about their treatment remain unsealed in court records for future generations to see.
“The best history helps us recognize the mistakes that we’ve made and the evil corners in which humanity can dwell,” Durrer said. “This discomfort causes us to learn and grow and harness the great collective power we have as a community.”
Zann Nelson, 76, is credited with making the ruling possible. She spent nearly 20 years researching the cases and pestering local officials.