[Content Warning: some content, language, and statements used in this story may be triggering to listeners]

MPR presents a report entitled Postcard From A Lynching, which looks at the history of a 1920 murder of three Black men in Duluth by a local mob. It’s a history that many in Duluth tried to forget… but others fought to bring the horrific lynching to light in the community and bring dignity to the slain men.

On a June night in 1920, hundreds of angry men and thousands of curious onlookers surrounded the downtown headquarters of the Duluth police department. They wanted the handful of police officers inside to turn over their prisoners - a group of young, Black circus workers. The police had arrested the men earlier that day upon accusations that some of the out-of-towners had raped a young, white woman at the circus grounds. Later investigations cast serious doubt on the rape charges. Murder charges towards members of the mob were never brought forth in the killing of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie.