This month three years ago - in September 2021 - the Ed Johnson Memorial was dedicated at Chattanooga’s Walnut Street Bridge.
In 1906, Johnson - a young Black man - had been falsely accused and wrongfully convicted of a crime that he did not commit.
His case reached the United States Supreme Court, which had issued a stay of execution.
But then, on March 19th, a violent mob took the law into its own hands - and lynched Johnson on the Walnut Street Bridge.
From his arrest through his trial to the final moments of his life, Johnson said, again and again, quote: “I am an innocent man.”
In 2021, months before the memorial’s dedication, I spoke with Neil Thomas - former judge for the 11th Judicial District Circuit Court of Tennessee - as part of our conversation series on Ed Johnson for “Scenic Roots.”
Judge Thomas has written a play about the case - and on Tuesday, a public reading of the play will be held at the Hamilton County Courthouse in downtown Chattanooga, in the 4th Floor County Commission Room from 3 PM to 5 PM.
